Method and apparatus for transmitting or receiving signal in wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

In a method and apparatus for transmitting or receiving a signal in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, an LBT is performed on a plurality of PUCCH resources corresponding to a PRI value received through DCI, and ACK/NACK information is transmitted in a PUCCH resource on which the LBT has succeeded.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus used in awireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method andapparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in an unlicensed band.

BACKGROUND ART

Wireless access systems have been widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication services such as voice or data. In general, awireless access system is a multiple access system that supportscommunication of multiple users by sharing available system resources (abandwidth, transmission power, etc.) among them. For example, multipleaccess systems include a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, afrequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, a time divisionmultiple access (TDMA) system, an orthogonal frequency division multipleaccess (OFDMA) system, and a single carrier frequency division multipleaccess (SC-FDMA) system.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Provided are a signal transmission and reception method and apparatusfor efficiently transmitting a hybrid automatic repeatrequest-acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) in a wireless communication system.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the objectsthat could be achieved with the present disclosure are not limited towhat has been particularly described hereinabove and the above and otherobjects that the present disclosure could achieve will be more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description.

Technical Solution

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for receiving asignal in a wireless communication system.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of transmitting andreceiving a signal in an unlicensed band by a communication apparatus ina wireless communication system includes receiving downlink controlinformation (DCI) including downlink scheduling information and aphysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource indicator (PM),receiving downlink data based on the DCI, performing listen-before-talk(LBT) for a plurality of PUCCH resources corresponding to a value of thePM, and transmitting acknowledgment/negative acknowledgment (ACK/NACK)information for the downlink data in one or more PUCCH resources inwhich LBT is successful among the plurality of PUCCH resources.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a communication apparatusfor transmitting and receiving a signal in an unlicensed band in awireless communication system includes at least one transceiver, atleast one processor, and at least one memory operatively coupled to theat least one processor and storing instructions which when executed,cause the at least one processor to perform specific operations. Thespecific operations include receiving DCI including downlink schedulinginformation and a PM, receiving downlink data based on the DCI,performing LBT for a plurality of PUCCH resources corresponding to avalue of the PM, and transmitting ACK/NACK information for the downlinkdata in one or more PUCCH resources in which LBT is successful among theplurality of PUCCH resources.

In the method and apparatus, the plurality of PUCCH resources may bedistinguished in the time domain, and the one or more PUCCH resourcesmay include a PUCCH resource in which the LBT is initially successful asa result of performing the LBT for the plurality of PUCCH resourcessequentially in the time domain.

In the method and apparatus, the plurality of PUCCH resources may havethe same PUCCH format and the same resource block allocation.

In the method and apparatus, the plurality of PUCCH resources may bedistinguished in the frequency domain, and the one or more PUCCHresources may be one or more PUCCH resource in which the LBT isinitially successful as a result of performing the LBT for the pluralityof PUCCH resources simultaneously in the frequency domain.

In the method and apparatus, when an uplink signal is transmitted in aplurality of subbands of consecutive symbols in the one or more PUCCHresources, the ACK/NACK information may be transmitted in a plurality ofPUCCH resources belonging to the plurality of subbands, and when anuplink signal is not transmitted in a plurality of subbands ofconsecutive symbols in the one or more PUCCH resources, the ACK/NACKinformation may be transmitted in one PUCCH resource.

In the method and apparatus, when a channel occupancy time (COT) securedby a base station (BS) exists in a plurality of subbands, the ACK/NACKinformation may be transmitted in a plurality of PUCCH resourcesbelonging to the plurality of subbands, and when a COT secured by the BSdoes not exist in a plurality of subbands, the ACK/NACK information maybe transmitted in one PUCCH resource.

In the method and apparatus, when an LBT type configured fortransmission of the ACK/NACK information is a first type, the number ofthe plurality of PUCCH resources corresponding to the value of the PMmay be set to be smaller than the number of a plurality of PUCCHresources corresponding to the value of the PM, when the LBT type is asecond type.

In the method and apparatus, the communication apparatus may include anautonomous driving vehicle communicable with at least a user equipment(UE), a network, and another autonomous driving vehicle other than thecommunication apparatus.

Advantageous Effects

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communicationapparatus may transmit a hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgment(HARQ-ACK) more efficiently by an operation differentiated from a legacyoperation.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the effectsthat can be achieved with the present disclosure are not limited to whathas been particularly described hereinabove and other advantages of thepresent disclosure will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a radio frame structure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a resource grid during the duration of a slot;

FIG. 3 illustrates a self-contained slot structure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an acknowledgment/negative acknowledgment (ACK/NACK)transmission process;

FIG. 5 illustrates a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmissionprocess;

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary multiplexing of control information in aPUSCH;

FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless communication system supporting anunlicensed band;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method of occupying resources in anunlicensed band;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating channel access procedures(CAPs) for signal transmission in an unlicensed band;

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate candidate physical uplink control channel(PUCCH) resources according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate exemplary downlink assignment index (DAI)sequences according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are flowcharts according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIGS. 18 to 21 illustrate devices according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

BEST MODE

The following technology may be used in various wireless access systemssuch as code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency divisionmultiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), orthogonalfrequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier frequencydivision multiple access (SC-FDMA), and so on. CDMA may be implementedas a radio technology such as universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA)or CDMA2000. TDMA may be implemented as a radio technology such asglobal system for mobile communications (GSM)/general packet radioservice (GPRS)/enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE). OFDMA maybe implemented as a radio technology such as institute of electrical andelectronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)), IEEE802.16 (worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX)), IEEE802.20, evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), and so on. UTRA is a part of universalmobile telecommunications system (UMTS). 3^(rd) generation partnershipproject (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) is a part of evolved UMTS(E-UMTS) using E-UTRA, and LTE-advanced (LTE-A) is an evolution of 3GPPLTE. 3GPP new radio or new radio access technology (NR) is an evolvedversion of 3GPP LTE/LTE-A.

For clarity of description, the present disclosure will be described inthe context of a 3GPP communication system (e.g., LTE and NR), whichshould not be construed as limiting the spirit of the presentdisclosure. LTE refers to a technology beyond 3GPP TS 36.xxx Release 8.Specifically, the LTE technology beyond 3GPP TS 36.xxx Release 10 iscalled LTE-A, and the LTE technology beyond 3GPP TS 36.xxx Release 13 iscalled LTE-A pro. 3GPP NR is the technology beyond 3GPP TS 38.xxxRelease 15. LTE/NR may be referred to as a 3GPP system. “xxx” specifiesa technical specification number. LTE/NR may be generically referred toas a 3GPP system. For the background technology, terminologies,abbreviations, and so on as used herein, refer to technicalspecifications published before the present disclosure. For example, thefollowing documents may be referred to.

3GPP LTE

-   -   36.211: Physical channels and modulation    -   36.212: Multiplexing and channel coding    -   36.213: Physical layer procedures    -   36.300: Overall description    -   36.331: Radio Resource Control (RRC)

3GPP NR

-   -   38.211: Physical channels and modulation    -   38.212: Multiplexing and channel coding    -   38.213: Physical layer procedures for control    -   38.214: Physical layer procedures for data    -   38.300: NR and NG-RAN Overall Description    -   38.331: Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification

FIG. 1 illustrates a radio frame structure used for NR.

In NR, UL and DL transmissions are configured in frames. Each radioframe has a length of 10 ms and is divided into two 5-ms half-frames.Each half-frame is divided into five 1-ms subframes. A subframe isdivided into one or more slots, and the number of slots in a subframedepends on a subcarrier spacing (SCS). Each slot includes 12 or 14OFDM(A) symbols according to a cyclic prefix (CP). When a normal CP isused, each slot includes 14 OFDM symbols. When an extended CP is used,each slot includes 12 OFDM symbols. A symbol may include an OFDM symbol(or a CP-OFDM symbol) and an SC-FDMA symbol (or a discrete Fouriertransform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbol).

Table 1 exemplarily illustrates that the number of symbols per slot, thenumber of slots per frame, and the number of slots per subframe varyaccording to SCSs in a normal CP case.

TABLE 1 SCS (15*2^(∧)u) N^(slot) _(symb) N^(frame,u) _(slot)N^(subframe,u) _(slot) 15KHz  (u=0) 14 10 1 30KHz  (u=1) 14 20 2 60KHz (u=2) 14 40 4 120KHz (u=3) 14 80 8 240KHz (u=4) 14 160 16 * N^(slot)_(symb): number of symbols in a slot * N^(frame,u) _(slot): number ofslots in a frame * N^(subframe,u) _(slot): number of slots in a subframe

Table 2 illustrates that the number of symbols per slot, the number ofslots per frame, and the number of slots per subframe vary according toSCSs in an extended CP case.

TABLE 2 SCS (15*2^(∧)u) N^(slot) _(symb) N^(frame,u) _(slot)N^(subframe,u) _(slot) 60KHz (u=2) 12 40 4

In the NR system, different OFDM(A) numerologies (e.g., SCSs, CPlengths, and so on) may be configured for a plurality of cellsaggregated for one UE. Accordingly, the (absolute time) duration of atime resource (e.g., a subframe, a slot, or a transmission time interval(TTI)) (for convenience, referred to as a time unit (TU)) composed ofthe same number of symbols may be configured differently between theaggregated cells.

FIG. 2 illustrates a resource grid during the duration of one slot.

A slot includes a plurality of symbols in the time domain. For example,one slot includes 14 symbols in a normal CP case and 12 symbols in anextended CP case. A carrier includes a plurality of subcarriers in thefrequency domain. A resource block (RB) may be defined by a plurality of(e.g., 12) consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. A bandwidthpart (BWP) may be defined by a plurality of consecutive (physical) RBs((P)RBs) in the frequency domain and correspond to one numerology (e.g.,SCS, CP length, and so on). A carrier may include up to N (e.g., 5)BWPs. Data communication may be conducted in an active BWP, and only oneBWP may be activated for one UE. Each element in a resource grid may bereferred to as a resource element (RE), to which one complex symbol maybe mapped.

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a self-contained slot.

In the NR system, a frame has a self-contained structure in which a DLcontrol channel, DL or UL data, a UL control channel, and the like mayall be contained in one slot. For example, the first N symbols(hereinafter, DL control region) in the slot may be used to transmit aDL control channel, and the last M symbols (hereinafter, UL controlregion) in the slot may be used to transmit a UL control channel. N andM are integers greater than or equal to 0. A resource region(hereinafter, a data region) that is between the DL control region andthe UL control region may be used for DL data transmission or UL datatransmission. For example, the following configuration may beconsidered. Respective sections are listed in a temporal order.

1. DL only configuration

2. UL only configuration

3. Mixed UL-DL configuration

-   -   DL region+Guard period (GP)+UL control region    -   DL control region+GP+UL region    -   DL region: (i) DL data region, (ii) DL control region+DL data        region    -   UL region: (i) UL data region, (ii) UL data region+UL control        region

The PDCCH may be transmitted in the DL control region, and the PDSCH maybe transmitted in the DL data region. The PUCCH may be transmitted inthe UL control region, and the PUSCH may be transmitted in the UL dataregion. The GP provides a time gap in the process of the UE switchingfrom the transmission mode to the reception mode or from the receptionmode to the transmission mode. Some symbols at the time of switchingfrom DL to UL within a subframe may be configured as the GP.

In the present disclosure, a base station (BS) may be, for example, agNode B (gNB).

FIG. 4 illustrates an ACK/NACK transmission process. Referring to FIG.4, the UE may detect a PDCCH in slot #n. The PDCCH includes DLscheduling information (e.g., DCI format 1_0 or DCI format 1_1). ThePDCCH indicates a DL assignment-to-PDSCH offset, K0 and aPDSCH-to-HARQ-ACK reporting offset, K1. For example, DCI format 1_0 orDCI format 1_1 may include the following information.

-   -   Frequency domain resource assignment: Indicates an RB set        assigned to a PDSCH.    -   Time domain resource assignment: Indicates K0 and the starting        position (e.g. OFDM symbol index) and length (e.g. the number of        OFDM symbols) of the PDSCH in a slot.    -   PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator: Indicates K1.

After receiving a PDSCH in slot #(n+K0) according to the schedulinginformation of slot #n, the UE may transmit UCI on a PUCCH in slot#(n+K1). The UCI includes an HARQ-ACK response to the PDSCH. In the casewhere the PDSCH is configured to carry one TB at maximum, the HARQ-ACKresponse may be configured in one bit. In the case where the PDSCH isconfigured to carry up to two TBs, the HARQ-ACK response may beconfigured in two bits if spatial bundling is not configured and in onebit if spatial bundling is configured. When slot #(n+K1) is designatedas an HARQ-ACK transmission timing for a plurality of PDSCHs, UCItransmitted in slot #(n+K1) includes HARQ-ACK responses to the pluralityof PDSCHs.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary PUSCH transmission process. Referring toFIG. 5, the UE may detect a PDCCH in slot #n. The PDCCH may include ULscheduling information (e.g., DCI format 0_0 or DCI format 0_1). DCIformat 0_0 and DCI format 0_1 may include the following information.

-   -   Frequency domain resource assignment: Indicates an RB set        allocated to a PUSCH.    -   Time domain resource assignment: Specifies a slot offset K2        indicating the starting position (e.g., symbol index) and length        (e.g., the number of OFDM symbols) of the PUSCH in a slot. The        starting symbol and length of the PUSCH may be indicated by a        start and length indicator value (SLIV), or separately.

The UE may then transmit a PUSCH in slot #(n+K2) according to thescheduling information in slot #n. The PUSCH includes a UL-SCH TB.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary multiplexing of UCI in a PUSCH. If aplurality of PUCCH resources overlap with a PUSCH resource in a slot anda PUCCH-PUSCH simultaneous transmission is not configured in the slot,UCI may be transmitted on a PUSCH (UCI piggyback or PUSCH piggyback), asillustrated. In the illustrated case of FIG. 8, an HARQ-ACK and CSI arecarried in a PUSCH resource.

1. Wireless Communication System Supporting Unlicensed Band

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system supportingan unlicensed band applicable to the present disclosure.

In the following description, a cell operating in a licensed band(L-band) is defined as an L-cell, and a carrier of the L-cell is definedas a (DL/UL) LCC. A cell operating in an unlicensed band (U-band) isdefined as a U-cell, and a carrier of the U-cell is defined as a (DL/UL)UCC. The carrier/carrier-frequency of a cell may refer to the operatingfrequency (e.g., center frequency) of the cell. A cell/carrier (e.g.,CC) is commonly called a cell.

When a UE and a BS transmit and receive signals in a carrier-aggregatedLCC and UCC as illustrated in FIG. 7(a), the LCC may be configured as aprimary CC (PCC) and the UCC may be configured as a secondary CC (SCC).As illustrated in FIG. 7(b), the UE and the BS may transmit and receivesignals in one UCC or a plurality of carrier-aggregated UCCs. That is,the UE and the BS may transmit and receive signals only in UCC(s)without an LCC.

Unless otherwise specified), a signal transmission/reception operationin an unlicensed band described in the present disclosure may beperformed based on all the above-described deployment scenarios.

Radio Frame Structure for Unlicensed Band

Recently, the 3GPP standardization group has proceeded to standardize a5G wireless communication system named new RAT (NR). The 3GPP NR systemhas been designed to provide a plurality of logical networks in a singlephysical system and support services with various requirements (e.g.,eMBB, mMTC, URLLC, etc.) by changing a transmission time interval (TTI)and/or an OFDM numerology (e.g., OFDM symbol duration, SCS, etc.). Inrecent years, data traffic has significantly increased with the adventof smart devices. Thus, the 3GPP NR system has also considered the useof an unlicensed band for cellular communication as in License-AssistedAccess (LAA) of the legacy 3GPP LTE system. However, unlike the LAA, aNR cell in the unlicensed-band (NR U-cell) aims to support standaloneoperation. For example, PUCCH, PUSCH, and/or PRACH transmission may besupported in the NR UCell.

The NR frame structure of FIG. 1 may be used for an operation in anunlicensed band. The configuration of OFDM symbols occupied for UL/DLsignal transmission in the frame structure for the unlicensed band maybe configured by the BS. The term OFDM symbol may be replaced withSC-FDM(A) symbol.

In the following description, a plurality of CCs (CC indexes) may bereplaced with a plurality of BWPs (BWP indexes) configured in one (ormore) CC(s) or (serving) cell(s), or a plurality of CCs/cells eachincluding a plurality of BWPs (i.e., CC (index)-BWP (index)combinations). In this situation, the proposed principle/operations ofthe present disclosure are also applicable in the same manner.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method of occupying resources in anunlicensed band. According to regional regulations for the U-band, acommunication node in the U-band needs to determine whether acorresponding channel is used by other communication node(s) beforetransmitting a signal. Specifically, the communication node may performcarrier sensing (CS) before transmitting the signal so as to checkwhether the other communication node(s) perform signal transmission.When the other communication node(s) perform no signal transmission, itis said that clear channel assessment (CCA) is confirmed. When a CCAthreshold is predefined or configured by higher layer signaling (e.g.,RRC signaling), if the detected channel energy is higher than the CCAthreshold, the communication node may determine that the channel isbusy. Otherwise, the communication node may determine that the channelis idle. When it is determined that the channel is idle, thecommunication node may start the signal transmission in the UCell. TheWi-Fi standard (802.11ac) specifies a CCA threshold of 62 dBm fornon-Wi-Fi signals and a CCA threshold of −82 dBm for Wi-Fi signals. Thesires of processes described above may be referred to asListen-Before-Talk (LBT) or a channel access procedure (CAP). The LBTmay be interchangeably used with the CAP or CCA.

Specifically, for DL reception/UL transmission in an unlicensed band,one or more of the following channel access procedure (CAP) methods maybe used in a wireless communication system related to the presentdisclosure.

Method of Transmitting DL Signal in Unlicensed Band

To transmit a DL signal in an unlicensed band, the BS may indicate theconfiguration of OFDM symbols used in subframe #n to the UE bysignaling. The term subframe may be replaced with slot or time unit(TU).

The BS may perform one of the following unlicensed band accessprocedures (e.g., CAPs) to transmit a DL signal in the unlicensed band.

(1) First DL CAP Method

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a DL CAP for DL signal transmissionin an unlicensed band, performed by a BS.

For DL signal transmission (e.g., transmission of a DL signal such as aPDSCH/PDCCH/enhanced PDCCH (EPDCCH)), the BS may initiate a CAP (S1210).The BS may randomly select a backoff counter N within a contentionwindow (CW) according to step 1. N is set to an initial value N_(init)(S1220). N_(init) is a random value selected from the values between 0and CW_(p). Subsequently, when the backoff counter value N is 0according to step 4 (S1230; Y), the BS terminates the CAP (S1232). TheBS may then perform a Tx burst transmission including transmission of aPDSCH/PDCCH/EPDCCH (S1234). On the contrary, when the backoff countervalue N is not 0 (S1230; N), the BS decrements the backoff counter valueby 1 according to step 2 (S1240). Subsequently, the BS checks whetherthe channel of U-cell(s) is idle (S1250), If the channel is idle (S1250;Y), the BS determines whether the backoff counter value is 0 (S1230). Onthe contrary, when the channel is not idle, that is, the channel is busy(S1250; N), the BS determines whether the channel is idle during alonger defer duration T_(d) (25 usec or longer) than a slot duration(e.g., 9 usec) according to step 5 (S1260). If the channel is idleduring the defer duration (S1270; Y), the BS may resume the CAP. Thedefer duration may include a 16-usec duration and the immediatelyfollowing m_(p) consecutive slot durations (e.g., each being 9 usec). Onthe contrary, if the channel is busy during the defer duration (S1270;N), the BS re-checks whether the channel of the U-cells) is idle duringa new defer duration by performing step S1260 again.

Table 3 illustrates that m_(p), a minimum CW, a maximum CW, a maximumchannel occupancy time (MCOT), and an allowed CW size applied to a CAPvary according to channel access priority classes.

TABLE 3 Channel Allowed Access Priority Class (p) m_(p) CW_(min, p)CW_(max, p) T_(mcotp) CW_(p) sizes 1 1 3 7 2 ms {3, 7} 2 1 7 15 3 ms {7,15} 3 3 15 63 8 or {15, 31, 63} 10 ms 4 7 15 1023 8 or {15, 31, 63, 127,10 ms 255, 511, 1023}

A CW size applied to the first DL CAP may be determined in variousmethods. For example, the CW size may be adjusted based on theprobability of HARQ-ACK values corresponding to PDSCH transmission(s)within a predetermined time period (e.g., a reference TV) beingdetermined as NACK. In the case where the BS performs a DL transmissionincluding a PDSCH that is associated with a channel access priorityclass p on a carrier, if the probability z of HARQ-ACK valuescorresponding to PDSCH transmission(s) in reference subframe k (orreference slot k) being determined as NACK is at least 80%, the BSincreases a CW value set for each priority class to the next higherallowed value. Alternatively, the BS maintains the CW value set for eachpriority class to be an initial value. A reference subframe (orreference slot) may be defined as the starting subframe (or slot) of themost recent transmission on the carrier made by the BS, for which atleast some HARQ-ACK feedback is expected to be available.

(2) Second DL CAP Method

The BS may perform a DL signal transmission (e.g., a signal transmissionincluding a discovery signal transmission, without a PDSCH) in anunlicensed band according to the second DL CAP method described below.

When the signal transmission duration of the BS is equal to or less than1 ms, the BS may transmit a DL signal (e.g., a signal including adiscovery signal without a PDSCH) in the unlicensed band immediatelyafter sensing the channel to be idle for at least a sensing durationT_(drs)=25 us. T_(drs) includes a duration T_(f) (=16 us) following onesensing slot duration T_(sl) (=9 us).

(3) Third DL CAP Method

The BS may perform the following CAPs for DL signal transmission onmultiple carriers in an unlicensed band.

1) Type A: The BS performs a CAP for multiple carriers based on acounter N defined for each carrier (a counter N considered in a CAP) andperforms a DL signal transmission based on the CAP.

-   -   Type A1: The counter N for each carrier is determined        independently, and a DL signal is transmitted on each carrier        based on the counter N for the carrier.    -   Type A2: The counter N of a carrier with a largest CW size is        set for each carrier, and a DL signal is transmitted on each        carrier based on the counter N for the carrier.

2) Type B: The BS performs a CAP based on a counter N only for aspecific one of a plurality of carriers and performs a DL signaltransmission by checking whether the channels of the other carriers areidle before a signal transmission on the specific carrier.

-   -   Type B1: A single CW size is defined for a plurality of        carriers, and the BS uses the single CW size in a CAP based on        the counter N for a specific carrier.    -   Type B2: A CW size is defined for each carrier, and the largest        of the CW sizes is used in determining N_(init) for a specific        carrier.

Method of Transmitting UL Signal in Unlicensed Band

For a UL signal transmission in an unlicensed band, the BS may transmitinformation about a UL transmission period to the UE by signaling.

For a UL signal transmission in the unlicensed band, the UE performs acontention-based CAP. For example, the UE may perform a Type 1 CAP or aType 2 CAP for UL signal transmission in the U-band. In general, the UEmay perform a CAP configured/indicated by the BS (e.g., Type 1 CAP orType 2 CAP) for the UL signal transmission.

(1) Type 1 UL CAP Method

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating UE's Type 1 CAP operation for ULsignal transmission.

To transmit a signal in the U-band, the UE may initiate a CAP (S1510).The UE may randomly select a backoff counter N within a contentionwindow (CW) according to step 1. In this case, N is set to an initialvalue Nina (S1520). Nina may have a random value between 0 and CW_(p).If it is determined according to step 4 that the backoff counter value(N) is 0 (YES in S1530), the UE terminates the CAP (S1532). Then, the UEmay perform Tx burst transmission (S1534). If the backoff counter valueis non-zero (NO in S1530), the UE decreases the backoff counter value by1 according to step 2 (S1540). The UE checks whether the channel ofU-cell(s) is idle (S1550). If the channel is idle (YES in S1550), the UEchecks whether the backoff counter value is 0 (S1530). On the contrary,if the channel is not idle in S1550, that is, if the channel is busy (NOin S1550), the UE checks whether the corresponding channel is idle for adefer duration T_(d) (longer than or equal to 25 usec), which is longerthan a slot duration (e.g., 9 usec), according to step 5 (S1560). If thechannel is idle for the defer duration (YES in S1570), the UE may resumethe CAP. Here, the defer duration may include a duration of 16 usec andm_(p) consecutive slot durations (e.g., 9 usec), which immediatelyfollows the duration of 16 usec. If the channel is busy for the deferduration (NO in S1570), the UE performs step S1560 again to checkwhether the channel is idle for a new defer duration.

Table 4 shows that the values of m_(p), a minimum CW, a maximum CW, amaximum channel occupancy time (MCOT), and allowed CW sizes, which areapplied to the CAP, vary depending on channel access priority classes.

TABLE 4 Channel Access Priority allowed Class (p) m_(p) CW_(min, p)CW_(max, p) T_(ulmcot,p) CW_(p) sizes 1 2 3 7 2 ms {3, 7} 2 2 7 15 4 ms{7, 15} 3 3 15 1023 6 ms or {15, 31, 63, 127, 10 ms 255, 511, 1023} 4 715 1023 6 ms or {15, 31, 63, 127, 10 ms 255, 511, 1023}

The size of a CW applied to the Type 1 UL CAP may be determined invarious ways. For example, the CW size may be adjusted depending onwhether the value of a new data indicator (NDI) for at least one HARQprocess associated with HARQ_ID_ref, which is the HARQ process ID of aUL-SCH in a predetermined time period (e.g., a reference TU), istoggled. When the UE performs signal transmission using the Type 1 CAPassociated with the channel access priority class p on a carrier, if thevalue of the NDI for the at least one HARQ process associated withHARQ_ID_ref is toggled, the UE may set CW_(p) to CW_(min, p) for everypriority class p∈{1,2,3,4}. Otherwise, the UE may increase CW_(p) forevery priority class p∈{1,2,3, 4} to a next higher allowed value.

A reference subframe (or slot) n_(ref) is determined as follows.

When the UE receives a UL grant in a subframe (or slot) n_(g) andtransmits a UL-SCH in subframes (or slots) n₀, n₁, . . . n_(w), startingfrom the subframe (or slot) no without a gap (the subframe (or slot)n_(w) is the most recent subframe (or slot) before a subframe (or slot)n_(g)-3 in which the UE has transmitted a UL-SCH based on a Type 1 CAP),the reference subframe (or slot) n_(ref) is the subframe (or slot) n₀.

(2) Type 2 UL CAP Method

When the UE uses the Type 2 CAP to transmit a UL signal (including thePUSCH) in a U-band, the UE may transmit the UL signal (including thePUSCH) in the U-band immediately after sensing that the channel is idleat least for a sensing period T_(short_ul) of 25 us. T_(short_ul)includes a duration T_(f) of 16 us immediately followed by one slotduration T_(sl) of 9 us. T_(f) includes an idle slot duration T_(sl) atthe start thereof.

HARQ-ACK Transmission in Unlicensed Band

To support a stand-alone operation in a U-band, a UE operation oftransmitting an HARQ-ACK feedback in the U-band based on a PUCCH/PUSCHtransmission, in response to a DL data (e.g., PDSCH) reception may beessential (hereinafter, HARQ-ACK is referred to as A/N, forconvenience).

For example, the BS may schedule a PDSCH transmission for the UE in aCOT occupied by performing LBT (CCA) and indicate to the UE to transmitan A/N feedback for the PDSCH reception in the same COT (or in agNB-initiated COT starting with/occupied for a DL transmission of theBS). This operation is referred to as intra-COT A/N transmission.

In another example, because of a UE processing time required fordecoding a PDSCH signal and encoding an HARQ-ACK signal for the PDSCHsignal, the UE may transmit an A/N feedback in response to reception ofa PDSCH scheduled/transmitted in a COT, in another COT (or a periodwhich does not belong to a gNB-initiated COT starting with/occupied fora DL transmission of the BS) following the COT may be indicated. Thisoperation is referred to as inter-COT A/N transmission.

Methods of indicating A/N (PUCCH/PUSCH} transmission parameters inconsideration of an LBT operation and a COT configuration in a U-bandand an A/N transmission type (e.g., intra-COT A/N or inter-COT A/N)changing according to the LBT operation and the COT configuration, andrelated UE operations will be proposed below. The proposed methods areapplicable in a similar manner, to an operation or process oftransmitting UCI (e.g., CSI or SR) on a PUCCH/PUSCH, not limited to anoperation of transmitting an HARQ-ACK feedback on a PUCCH/PUSCH.Further, the proposed methods described below are applicable in asimilar manner, to an L-band (or U-band) operation without LBT, notlimited to a U-band operation based on LBT.

Methods of configuring/transmitting an A/N feedback will be describedbelow.

1) Timing-Based A/N Feedback Method (Hereinafter, Referred to as “t-A/N”Scheme)

A plurality of candidate HARQ (PDSCH-to-A/N) timings may bepreconfigured by RRC signaling. One of the candidate HARQ timings may beindicated by (DL grant) DCI. The UE may transmit an A/N feedback forreception of a (plurality of) PDSCH(s) in a plurality of slotscorresponding to the total candidate HARQ timing set at the HARQ timingindicated by the DCI. This method of configuring and transmitting an A/Nfeedback may be referred to as a type-1 A/N codebook.

Alternatively, in addition to the HARQ timing indication, a counterdownlink assignment index (counter-DAI) and/or a total-DAI may also besignaled by the DCI. The counter-DAI may indicate the scheduling orderof the PDSCH corresponding to the (DL grant) DCI. The total-DAI mayindicate the total number of PDSCHs scheduled up to the current time.The UE may transmit A/Ns for PDSCHs corresponding to counter-DAI valuesfrom an initial counter-DAI value to the last (received) total-DAI valueat the indicated HARQ timing. This method of configuring andtransmitting an A/N feedback may be referred to as a type-2 A/Ncodebook.

2) Pooling-Based A/N Feedback Method (Hereinafter, Referred to as p-A/NScheme)

Pending of an A/N feedback transmission for a corresponding PDSCH may beindicated by DL grant DCI. Subsequently, transmission of an A/N feedbackfor a PDSCH corresponding to total DL HARQ process IDs or some specificDL HARQ process ID(s) at a timing configured/indicated by a specificsignal (e.g., RRC signaling or DCI) may be indicated by specific DCI(e.g., DL grant DCI, UL grant DCI, or other DCI) (pooling). This methodof configuring and transmitting an A/N feedback may be referred to as atype-3 A/N codebook.

Further, when counter-DAI/total-DAI signaling is further configured inthe t-A/N scheme which is placed in a switching relationship with thep-A/N scheme, an A/N transmission for a PDSCH corresponding to an HARQprocess ID indicated by pooling-indicating DCI may be pooled.Alternatively, a total-DAI value may be indicated by pooling-indicatingDCI, and an A/N transmission for a PDSCH corresponding to the indicatedtotal-DAI value may be pooled.

3) Method of Dynamically Switching Between t-A/N Scheme and p-A/N Scheme

Switching between the t-A/N scheme and the p-A/N scheme (e.g., which onebetween the t-A/N scheme and the p-A/N scheme is used toconfigure/transmit an A/N feedback) may be indicated by DL grant DCI.A/N pending or A/N pooling for the p-A/N scheme may be indicated by thesame DL grant DCI. For example, the same DL grant DCI may furtherindicate pending or pooling of the A/N feedback transmission.

In another example, switching between the t-A/N scheme and A/N pendingfor application of the p-A/N scheme may be indicated by DL grant DCI.For example, DL grant DCI may indicate whether to apply the t-A/N schemeor pending of an A/N feedback transmission in the p-A/N scheme. A/Npooling in the p-A/N scheme may be indicated by UL grant DCI or UE (orUE group)-common DCI.

In another example, switching between the t-A/N scheme and A/N pendingfor application of the p-A/N scheme may be indicated by DL grant DCIincluding PDSCH scheduling/information (e.g., a resource allocation (RA)and a modulation and coding scheme (MCS)/transport block size (TBS)).For example, DL grant DCI including PDSCH scheduling/information (e.g.,an RA and an MCS/TBS) may indicate whether to apply the t-A/N scheme orpending of an AN transmission in the p-A/N scheme. A/N pooling in thep-A/N scheme may be indicated by DL grant DCI without PDSCH scheduling.

4) PDSCH (Slot) Group ID-Based A/N Feedback Method

A current-ID indicating the ID of a slot group to which a slot carryingDCI grant DCI or a corresponding PDSCH belongs may be signaled by theDCI (i.e., the DCI grant DCI). 1) An A/N transmission timing and 2) afeedback-ID indicating the ID of a (DL PDSCH) slot group for which anA/N feedback is to be transmitted may be signaled by A/N triggering DCI.The slot group may be a timing set including a plurality of candidatetiming values D_m (m=0, 1, . . . , M). Therefore, a slot group to whichslot #n belongs may be configured/defined with/by M slots correspondingto slot #(n-D_m) or slot #(n+D_m) (m=0, 1, . . . , M). M may bepredefined or indicated by the BS.

The UE transmits an A/N feedback for a slot group corresponding to thefeedback-ID (or a current-ID signaled/received as a value equal to thefeedback-ID) at a time indicated as the A/N transmission timing. Forexample, A/N triggering DCI (or when the DCI is DL grant DCI, a PDSCHcorresponding to the DL grant DCI) may be transmitted/detected in slot#n, indicating K and X where K is an A/N transmission timing and X is afeedback-ID. In this case, the UE may transmit an A/N feedback for aslot group with a slot group ID, X (i.e., a current-ID set to X in theDL grant DCI) in slot #(n+K). When the UE transmits the A/N feedback forthe slot group corresponding to the feedback-ID (e.g., slot group ID=X)at a time (e.g., slot #K1) indicated as a first A/N transmission timing,a PDSCH related to a second A/N transmission timing (e.g., slot #K2) maybe received in the slot group corresponding to the feedback-ID. In thiscase, the A/N response for the PDSCH reception may be set as NACK in theA/N feedback transmitted in slot #K1.

When A/N triggering DCI is identical to DL grant DCI (i.e., both acurrent-ID and a feedback-ID are signaled by the DL grant DCI), the UEmay transmit 1) an A/N feedback for a bundling window corresponding toan A/N transmission timing or for a slot group corresponding to thecurrent-ID and 2) an A/N feedback for a slot group corresponding to thefeedback-ID, in combination, on one PUCCH/PUSCH at a time indicated asthe A/N transmission timing.

Configuration of PUCCH Resources for A/N Transmission

To provide a plurality of LBT attempt opportunities for one PUCCHtransmission, PUCCH resources may be configured in the followingmethods.

A single PUCCH resource may be allocated, and a plurality of candidatestarting symbols may be configured for the PUCCH resource. A candidatestarting symbol may be replaced by a candidate starting symbol set. Inthis case, a (minimum) symbol duration D may be configured for the PUCCHresource. When a PUCCH is transmitted for the duration D, starting fromthe last candidate starting symbol, the index of the last symbol of thePUCCH may be I.

The UE may transmit the PUCCH for the duration D, starting from astarting symbol in which LBT is first successful, among the plurality ofcandidate starting symbols. Alternatively, the UE may transmit the PUCCHin the starting symbol in which LBT is first successful to the symbolwith the symbol index I.

In another method, a plurality of candidate PUCCH resources may beallocated in TDM on the time axis. A candidate PUCCH resource may bereplaced by a candidate PUCCH resource set. In this case, the resourceindex of a candidate PUCCH resources starting from the last startingsymbol is defined as J. Alternatively, J may be the resource index of acandidate PUCCH resource ending with the last ending symbol.

The UE may transmit a PUCCH only in one PUCCH resource in which LBT isfirst successful among the plurality of candidate PUCCH resources.Alternatively, the UE may transmit a single PUCCH (repeatedly) over aplurality of PUCCH resources including the PUCCH resource in which LBTis first successful to the PUCCH resource with the resource index J,among the plurality of candidate PUCCH resources.

Configuration of PUCCH Resources Based on PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI)and/or HARQ Timing Indicator (HTI)

In the above-described PUCCH resource configuration methods, a pluralityof sets of candidate PUCCH resources or candidate starting symbols maybe preconfigured by a higher-layer signal (e.g., a system informationblock (SIB) or RRC signaling). Then, one of the sets may be indicated bya specific field in a PDCCH (e.g., DL grant DCI). The specific field maybe a PRI. The PRI may also be called an ACK/NACK resource indicator(AM). While candidate PUCCH resources are mainly described below inrelation to the PRI, the following description may also be given byreplacing candidate PUCCH resources with candidate starting symbols. TheUE may perform one of PUCCH transmission operations described in theforegoing <configuration of PUCCH resources for A/N transmission>, basedon an indicated candidate PUCCH resource set.

As described before, the intra-COT A/N transmission operation and theinter-COT A/N transmission operation, or the t-AN feedback scheme andthe p-AN feedback scheme may be indicated/changed dynamically. Adifferent number of PUCCH resources/starting symbols may be included ina candidate PUCCH resource set corresponding to each state indicated bythe PM field (hereinafter, referred to PRI state). For example, thenumber of PUCCH resources/starting symbols for each PM state may be setto one of {1, A(>1)}, one of {A(>1), B(>A)}, or one of {1, A(>1),B(>A)}. Additionally, to prevent a mismatch between the UE and the BSregarding configuration of A/N payload and determination of a PUCCHresource/starting symbol in the state where a different number ofcandidate PUCCH resources are configured for each PRI state, a pluralityof DL grant DCIs indicating the same A/N transmission timing mayindicate the same number of candidate PUCCH resources. The number ofcandidate PUCCH resources may be indicated by the PM fields of the DLgrant DCIs. Upon receipt of the indications, the UE may operate on theassumption of the same number of candidate PUCCH resources.

A plurality of candidate PUCCH resources in the (same) candidate PUCCHresource set configured for one PM state may have the same PUCCH formatand RB allocation (e.g., the number/indexes of RBs) and differentstarting/ending symbol positions. For example, the plurality ofcandidate PUCCH resources may be configured (in TDM at the slot level)over a plurality of (contiguous) slots, with one PUCCH resource perslot. Alternatively, the plurality of candidate PUCCH resources may beconfigured over one or more (contiguous) slots, with a plurality ofresources per slot (in TDM at the symbol level). In another example, aplurality of PUCCH starting symbols may be configured (in TDM at theslot level) over a plurality of (contiguous) slots, with one startingsymbol per slot. Alternatively, the plurality of PUCCH starting symbolsmay be configured over one or more (contiguous) slots, with a pluralityof starting symbols per slot (in TDM at the symbol level).

In the present disclosure, a relatively small contention window size(CWS)-based or backoff (BO)-less type LBT operation is defined as LBTtype A (e.g., no LBT or Cat-2 LBT), and a relatively large CWS-based orBO-based LBT operation is defined as LBT type B (e.g., Cat-4 LBT).

Indicating a UL transmission without LBT by DCI that triggers an A/Nfeedback transmission is defined as LBT type X. Further, Cat-2 LBT orCat-4 LBT may be indicated by DCI that triggers an A/N feedbacktransmission. This operation is defined as LBT type Y.

Additionally, different LBT types may be configured for a plurality of(TDMed) PUCCH resources in the same one candidate PUCCH resource set(particularly, in relation to intra-COT A/N transmission). For example,(when the timing gap between the ending time of a DL transmission andthe starting time of a UL (A/N) transmission within a COT is equal to orless than a predetermined value) LBT type A or X may beconfigured/applied for/to some earliest PUCCH resource(s), and LBT typeB or Y may be configured/applied for/to the remaining PUCCH resource(s)among the plurality of candidate PUCCH resources.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, one CC or BWP configured for the UE in theU-band situation may be a wideband having a larger BW than in legacyLTE. However, even in this wideband CC/BWP configuration situation, a BWrequiring CCA based on an independent LBT operation may be limited(according to a specific rule). Accordingly, a unit subband in which LBTis performed individually is defined as an LBT-SB. A plurality ofLBT-SBs may be included (contiguously or non-contiguously) in onewideband CC/BWP.

Based on the above configuration, a plurality of candidate PUCCHresources in time and/or frequency may be indicated/configured (by RRCsignaling and/or DCI) in consideration of LBT failure for an A/N PUCCH(and the resulting dropping of the A/N PUCCH transmission) in the U-bandsituation. The UE may transmit the A/N PUCCH in a specific (one)resource in which LBT is successful among the plurality of candidatePUCCH resources.

Referring to FIG. 12, a plurality of TDMed candidate PUCCH resources(e.g., a slot or symbol group) (contiguous or non-contiguous) in timemay be indicated/configured for transmission of a single A/N PUCCH.These candidate PUCCH resources may be referred to as candidate T-domainresources. The UE may attempt LBT in the plurality of (time) resourcessequentially in time, and transmit the A/N PUCCH in a specific resourcein which CCA is successful (for the first time).

With reference made again to FIG. 11, a plurality of candidate PUCCHresources (e.g., LBT-SBs, BWPs, or CCs) distinguished by frequency maybe indicated/configured for transmission of a single A/N PUCCH. Thesecandidate PUCCH resources may be referred to as candidate F-domainresources. The UE may attempt LBT in the plurality of (frequency)resources (at the same time), and transmit the A/N PUCCH in a specificresource in which CCA is successful.

In relation to an A/N PUCCH transmission, candidate PUCCH resources ofwhich the domain is not explicitly indicated may be candidate T-domainresources in the present disclosure. One candidate T-domain resource mayinclude one or more candidate F-domain resources. A method of allocatingA/N PUCCH resources and transmitting an A/N PUCCH, based on candidateT/F-domain resources may be considered. In the following description, aspecific field of a PDCCH (e.g., DCI) indicating a PDSCH-to-A/N PUCCHtransmission (HARQ) timing may be referred to as an HARQ timingindicator (HTI) field.

In a method of allocating A/N PUCCH resources and transmitting an A/NPUCCH, based on candidate T/F-domain resources, a plurality of candidateT-domain resources may be indicated by a PRI field.

In a method of indicating a plurality of candidate T-domain resources bya PRI field, a candidate PUCCH resource set including (the same numberof) a plurality of candidate T-domain resources may be configured foreach PRI state. The candidate T-domain resources of the (same) candidatePUCCH resource set configured for one PRI state may have the same PUCCHformat and RB allocation (e.g., the number/indexes of RBs), anddifferent starting or ending symbol positions. For example, theplurality of candidate T-domain resources may be configured (in TDM atthe slot level) over a plurality of (contiguous) slots, with oneresource per slot. Alternatively, the plurality of candidate T-domainresources may be configured over one or more (contiguous) slots, with aplurality of resources per slot (in TDM at the symbol level). Oncecandidate PUCCH resource set(s) including (the same number of) aplurality of candidate T-domain resources are configured for each PRIstate, one HARQ timing may be configured for each HTI state. The HARQtiming indicated by the HTI field may be the transmission timing of theearliest candidate T-domain resource in one candidate PUCCH resourceset.

Alternatively, in a method of indicating a plurality of candidateT-domain resources by a PM field, a different number of candidateT-domain resources (in the resource set configured for each PRI state)may be allocated according to an LBT type indicated/configured for anA/N PUCCH transmission. For example, all of a plurality of candidateT-domain resources included in a candidate PUCCH resource set may beallocated for LBT type B or Y. For LBT type A or X, only a specificcandidate T-domain resource of the candidate PUCCH resource set may beallocated. The specific candidate T-domain resource may be one earliestcandidate T-domain resource.

The UE may transmit the PUCCH only in one of the plurality of allocatedcandidate T-domain resources, in which the UE has first succeeded inLBT. Alternatively, the UE may transmit the single PUCCH (repeatedly)over a plurality of PUCCH resources from the candidate T-domain resourcein which the UE has first succeeded in LBT to a candidate T-domainresource with a resource index J.

In an A/N PUCCH resource allocation and transmission method based oncandidate T/F-domain resources, a plurality of candidate T-domainresources may be indicated by the HTI field.

In a method of indicating a candidate T-domain resource by the HTIfield, a candidate PUCCH timing set including (the same number of) aplurality of candidate PUCCH timings (e.g., candidate PUCCH startingslot/symbol timings) may be configured for each HTI state. A candidatePUCCH timing set for a reference HTI state may include minimum timings(e.g. {D1, D2, D3, D4}). A candidate PUCCH timing set for an HTI stateother than the reference HTI state may be configured by adding the same(e.g., slot or symbol) offset to the minimum timings (e.g., {D1+a, D2+a,D3+a, D4+a}). Different offsets may be configured for the candidatePUCCH timing sets of different HTI states. The plurality of minimumtimings (e.g. {D1, D2, D3, D4}) may indicate different (contiguous)slots, respectively. Alternatively, the plurality of minimum timings mayindicate a plurality of different symbol timings in each of one or more(contiguous) slots. When a plurality of different symbol timings in eachslot are indicated, the starting symbol of a PUCCH resource may bedetermined based on an indicated symbol timing (e.g., on the assumptionthat the timing is symbol index 0). When a set of (the same number of) aplurality of candidate PUCCH timings are configured for each HTI state,one (T-domain) PUCCH resource may be configured for each PRI state. The(plurality of) timings of the PUCCH timing set may be applied as thetransmission timings of PUCCH resources for the respective PRI states.

Further, in a method of indicating a candidate T-domain resource by theHTI field, a different number of candidate PUCCH timings (in a candidatePUCCH timing set configured for each HTI state) may be applied accordingto an LBT type indicated/configured for an A/N PUCCH transmission. Forexample, all of the plurality of candidate PUCCH timings in thecandidate PUCCH timing set may be applied for LBT type B or Y. For LBTtype A or X, only a specific candidate PUCCH timing of the candidatePUCCH timing set may be applied. The specific candidate PUCCH timing maybe one earliest candidate PUCCH timing.

For a plurality of candidate T-domain resources configured by applying aplurality of candidate PUCCH timings to one PUCCH resource, the UE maytransmit a PUCCH only in one of the plurality of candidate T domainresources, in which the UE has first succeeded in LBT. Alternatively,the UE may transmit the single PUCCH (repeatedly) over a plurality ofPUCCH resources from the PUCCH resource in which the UE has firstsucceeded in LBT to a PUCCH resource with a resource index J, among theplurality of candidate T-domain resources.

Further, in an A/N PUCCH resource allocation and transmission methodbased on candidate T/F-domain resources, a plurality of candidateF-domain resources may be indicated by the PRI field.

In a method of indicating a plurality of candidate F-domain resources bya PM field, a candidate PUCCH resource set including a plurality ofcandidate F-domain resources may be configured for each PRI state. Foreach PRI state, the number of candidate F-domain resources per candidatePUCCH resource may be the same or different. A plurality of candidateF-domain resources included in the (same) candidate PUCCH resource setof one PM state may have different CC/BWP/LBT-SB configurations, thesame PUCCH format, the same RB allocation (in each CC/BWP/LBT-SB), andthe same starting and/or ending symbol positions.

Alternatively, in a method of indicating a plurality of candidateF-domain resources by a PM field, a different number of candidateF-domain resources (in the resource set configured for each PRI state)may be allocated according to an LBT type indicated/configured for anA/N PUCCH transmission. For example, all of the plurality of candidateF-domain resources which are included in the candidate PUCCH resourceset (and/or located in a gNB-initiated COT in frequency) may beallocated for LBT type Y or B, whereas only a specific candidateF-domain resource among the plurality of candidate F-domain resourceswhich are included in the candidate PUCCH resource set (and/or locatedin the gNB-initiated COT in frequency) may be allocated for LBT type Xor A. The specific candidate F-domain resource may be one candidateF-domain resource located at the lowest frequency.

The UE may attempt LBT in a plurality of allocated candidate F-domainresources (at the same time) and transmit an A/N PUCCH in a specificresource in which the UE succeeds in CCA.

LBT-SB-Based PUCCH Transmission

In the case where a plurality of candidate F-domain resources (e.g.,LBT-SBs) are configured for transmission of a single UCI (e.g., A/N)PUCCH, the UE may attempt LBT (at the same time) in the plurality ofLBT-SBs and succeed in the LBT for a plurality of LBT-SBs. The UE maytransmit the PUCCH (repeatedly on the frequency axis) in (all or someof) the plurality of LBT-SBs. Alternatively, the UE may select aspecific one of the plurality of LBT-SBs and transmit the PUCCH only inthe selected LBT-SB. Whether the UE is to transmit the PUCCH in aplurality of LBT-SBs or only in one LBT-SB may be determined inconsideration of the following.

In the case where a plurality of LBT-SBs are configured for a singlePUCCH, the single PUCCH may be transmitted in a plurality of LBT-SBs ora single LBT-SB according to a specific condition. When transmission ofanother UL channel/signal (e.g. a PUSCH) over a plurality of LBT-SBs (inTDM) in the (contiguous) symbol immediately following the ending symbolof the single PUCCH is indicated/configured to/for the UE, the UE maytransmit the PUCCH in the plurality of LBT-SBs which will carry theother UL channel/signal. Alternatively, when a gNB-initiated COT isconfigured over a plurality of LBT-SBs in frequency, the UE may transmitthe PUCCH in the configured plurality of LBT-SBs. The UE may receive agNB-initiated COT configuration by signaling from the BS or the like.When transmission of another UL channel/signal in a plurality of LBT-SBsis not scheduled, or when a gNB-initiated COT is not configured over aplurality of LBT-SBs in frequency, the UE may transmit the PUCCH in asingle LBT-SB.

Alternatively, in the case where a plurality of LBT-SBs are configuredfor a single PUCCH, whether to transmit the PUCCH in a plurality ofLBT-SBs or in a single LBT-SB may be indicated by DCI. For example, DLgrant DCI may indicate whether the PUCCH is to be transmitted in aplurality of LBT-SBs or in a single LBT-SB. Alternatively, when DCIindicates use of a single LBT-SB but transmission of another ULchannel/signal in a plurality of LBT-SBs is scheduled for the UE, the UEmay transmit the PUCCH in the plurality of LBT-SBs which will carry theother UL channel/signal. Further, when DCI indicates use of a singleLBT-SB but a gNB-initiated COT is configured over a plurality of LBT-SBsin frequency, the UE may transmit the PUCCH in the configured pluralityof LBT-SBs.

Alternatively, in the case where a single LBT-SB is configured for asingle PUCCH, the UE may transmit the PUCCH in a plurality of LBT-SBs,exceptionally under a certain condition. For example, when only oneLBT-SB is configured for a PUCCH transmission but transmission ofanother UL channel/signal in a plurality of LBT-SBs is scheduled for theUE, the UE may transmit the PUCCH in the plurality of LBT-SBs which willcarry the other UL channel/signal. Further, when only one LBT-SB isconfigured for a PUCCH transmission but a gNB-initiated COT isconfigured over a plurality of LBT-SBs in frequency, the UE may transmitthe PUCCH in the configured plurality of LBT-SBs.

Channel Transmission Based on NB-CH and WB-CH

It may be generalized that transmission of a specific UL channel/signal(hereinafter referred to as “NB-CH”) in one of one or more candidateLBT-SBs is indicated/configured. Transmission of another specific ULchannel/signal (hereinafter referred to as “WB-CH”) over a plurality ofLBT-SBs (in TDM) in the (contiguous) symbol immediately following theending symbol of the NB-CH may be indicated/configured. When a pluralityof candidate LBT-SBs are configured for the NB-CH transmission, theconfigured LBT-SBs may be identical to the plurality of LBT-SBsallocated for the WB-CH transmission.

In an NB-CH and WB-CH-based channel transmission method, LBT may befirst performed for a (plurality of) candidate LBT-SB(s) configured foran NB-CH transmission. When LBT is successful for at least one of thecandidate LBT-SBs configured for the NB-CH transmission, an NB-CH istransmitted in the LBT-SB in which LBT is successful. A WB-CH may betransmitted only in the same one LBT-SB. The WB-CH signal may bepunctured in the remaining LBT-SBs except for the one LBT-SB, thus notbeing mapped to the remaining LBT-SBs. Accordingly, the WB-CH signal isnot transmitted in the remaining LBT-SBs except for the one LBT-SB. Ifthe LBT fails in all of the candidate LBT-SBs configured for the NB-CHtransmission, the UE drops the NB-CH transmission, and performs LBT inthe plurality of LBT-SBs configured for the WB-CH transmission. TheWB-CH may be transmitted according to LBT results for the plurality ofLBT-SBs configured for the WB-CH transmission. For example, the WB-CHmay be transmitted only in an LBT-SB in which LBT is successful.

Alternatively, in an NB-CH and WB-CH-based channel transmission method,LBT may be performed for a plurality of LBT-SBs configured for a WB-CHtransmission. If the LBT is successful for all of the LBT-SBs, an NB-CHis mapped/transmitted (repeatedly) over the plurality of LBT-SBs inwhich the LBT is successful. A WB-CH is also transmitted in theplurality of LBT-SBs in which the LBT is successful. If the LBT issuccessful only in some LBT-SBs, the NB-CH and the WB-CH may betransmitted only in the LBT-SBs in which the LBT is successful. When theLBT fails in all the LBT-SBs, the UE drops the NB-CH transmission andperforms LBT for the (same) plurality of LBT-SBs configured for theWB-CH transmission. According to LBT results for the plurality ofLBT-SBs configured for the WB-CH transmission, the WB-CH transmissionmay be performed. For example, the WB-CH transmission may be performedonly in an LBT-SB in which LBT is successful. Even when the LBT issuccessful only in some LBT-SBs, the UE drops the NB-CH transmission andperforms only the WB-CH transmission according to the LBT and the LBTresults for the (same) plurality of LBT-SBs configured for the WB-CHtransmission.

When only a single candidate LBT-SB is indicated/configured for an NB-CHtransmission, LBT may be first performed for the candidate LBT-SBconfigured for the NB-CH transmission. When a plurality of candidateLBT-SBs are indicated/configured for the NB-CH transmission, LBT mayfirst be performed in candidate LBT-SBs configured for a WB-CHtransmission.

And/or, when the NB-CH has a higher protection priority than the WB-CH,LBT may be performed first for the candidate LBT-SB configured for theNB-CH transmission. When the WB-CH has a higher protection priority thanthe NB-CH, LBT may be first performed for the candidate LBT-SBsconfigured for the WB-CH transmission.

And/or, when it is indicated/configured that the NB-CH transmissiontakes place later than the WB-CH transmission, LBT may be firstperformed for the candidate LBT-SB configured for the NB-CHtransmission. When it is indicated/configured that the WB-CHtransmission takes place later than the NB-CH transmission, LBT may beperformed first in the candidate LBT-SBs configured for the WB-CHtransmission.

UL TX Parameter Configuration for A/N Transmission

Depending on whether the t-A/N scheme or the p-A/N scheme is indicatedby A/N triggering DCI, all or a part of the following UL TX parametersmay be configured differently.

(1) Candidate HARQ Timing Set

When the p-A/N scheme is indicated, a minimum candidate HARQ timing maybe set to a larger value, and/or the interval between adjacent candidateHARQ timings may be configured/set to be larger than when the t-A/Nscheme is indicated.

(2) Candidate PUCCH Starting Symbol Set or Candidate PUCCH Resource Set

When the p-A/N scheme is indicated, a larger number of candidate PUCCHstarting symbols or candidate PUCCH resources (e.g., more LBTopportunities) may be configured than when the t-A/N scheme isindicated. For example, in the case of the p-A/N scheme, a plurality ofstarting symbols or PUCCH resources may be configured, whereas in thecase of the t-A/N scheme, a single starting symbol or PUCCH resource maybe configured.

(3) LBT type

A. When the p-A/N scheme is indicated, a contention window size (CWS)for BO-based LBT may be set to a larger value than when the t-A/N schemeis indicated. For example, in the case of the p-A/N scheme, a CWS-basedBO-based LBT type may be configured. On the other hand, in the case ofthe t-A/N scheme, a BO-less LBT type may be configured. The BO-based LBTtype may be Cat-4 LBT. As the BO-less LBT type, a UL transmissionwithout LBT may be performed (no LBT), or Cat-2 LBT (based on a shortCCA gap of 25 us) may be performed.

(4) A/N PUCCH Resource Set

When the p-A/N scheme is indicated, PUCCH resources/formats with alarger maximum supported UCI payload size may be configured/set, and/orPUCCH resources/formats with a larger symbol duration may beconfigured/set than when the t-A/N scheme is indicated.

In addition, when the p-A/N scheme is indicated, PUCCH resources may beconfigured only in the form of an RB set discontinuous (e.g., in anequi-distant interlaced structure) in frequency. When the t-A/N schemeis indicated, PUCCH resources may be configured in the form of a(localized) contiguous RB set (in addition to the RB interlaced form).

For the above PUCCH resource allocation, each state indicated by a PMfield in DL grant DCI may be set to a different PUCCH resourcestructure. For example, a specific PM state may be set to thenon-contiguous RB set, and another PRI state may be set to thecontiguous RB set. With a different PUCCH resource structure configuredfor each PM state, a PUCCH resource structure may be dynamicallyindicated/changed by the PM field.

(5) A/N Feedback Type

When inter-COT A/N transmission is indicated, the p-A/N scheme may beapplied, and when intra-COT A/N transmission is indicated, the t-A/Nscheme may be applied.

Alternatively, in a method of configuring UL TX parameters, all or apart of the following UL TX parameters may be configured differentlydepending on an LBT type indicated by A/N triggering DCI.

When LBT type A or X is indicated, {t-A/N feedback type, candidate HARQtiming set, candidate PUCCH starting symbol set, A/N PUCCH resource set}corresponding to intra-COT A/N transmission may be applied. When LBTtype B or Y is indicated, {p-A/N feedback type, candidate HARQ timingset, candidate PUCCH starting symbol set, A/N PUCCH resource set}corresponding to inter-COT A/N transmission may be applied.

All or a part of the following UL TX parameters may be configureddifferently depending on an LBT type indicated by A/N triggering DCI(e.g., DL grant DCI, UL grant DCI, or common DCI).

(1) Candidate HARQ Timing Set

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, a minimum candidate HARQ timing maybe set to a larger value, and/or the interval between adjacent candidateHARQ timings may be configured/set to be larger than when LBT type A orX is indicated.

(2) Candidate PUCCH Starting Symbol Set or Candidate PUCCH Resource Set

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, a larger number of candidate PUCCHstarting symbols or candidate PUCCH resources (e.g., more LBTopportunities) may be set than when LBT type A or X is indicated. Forexample, when LBT type B or Y is indicated, a plurality of startingsymbols or PUCCH resources may be configured, whereas when LBT type A orX is indicated, a single starting symbol or PUCCH resource may beconfigured.

(3) A/N Feedback Type

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, the p-A/N scheme (or inter-COT A/Ntransmission) may be applied. When LBT type A or X is indicated, thet-A/N scheme (or intra-COT A/N transmission) may be applied.

(4) A/N PUCCH Resource Set

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, PUCCH resources/formats with a largermaximum supported UCI payload size may be configured/set, and/or PUCCHresources/formats with a larger symbol duration may be configured/setthan when LBT type A or X is indicated.

In addition, when LBT type B or Y is indicated, PUCCH resources may beconfigured only in the form of an RB set discontinuous (e.g., in anequi-distant interlaced structure) in frequency. When LBT type A or X isindicated, PUCCH resources may be configured in the form of a(localized) contiguous RB set (in addition to the RB interlaced form).

For the above PUCCH resource allocation, each state indicated by a PMfield in DL grant DCI may be set to a different PUCCH resourcestructure. For example, a specific PM state may be set to thenon-contiguous RB set, and another PRI state may be set to thecontiguous RB set. With a different PUCCH resource structure configuredfor each PM state, a PUCCH resource structure may be dynamicallyindicated/changed by the PM field.

UL TX Parameter Configuration for PUSCH Transmission

In an example of UL data (e.g., PUSCH) scheduling/transmission, the BSmay transmit UL grant DCI that schedules a PUSCH for a specific UE in aCOT secured by LBT and indicate to the UE to transmit a PUSCH in thesame COT (or a gNB-initiated COT period starting with/occupied for a DLtransmission). This operation may be referred to as intra-COT PUSCHtransmission.

In another example, the BS may indicate to the UE to transmit a PUSCHcorresponding to UL grant DCI transmitted in a specific COT, in anotherCOT (or a period which does not belong to a gNB-initiated COT) followingthe COT, because of a UE processing time required for decoding a ULgrant DCI signal and encoding a corresponding PUSCH signal. Thisoperation may be referred to as inter-COT PUSCH transmission.

According to whether intra-COT PUSCH transmission or inter-COT PUSCHtransmission is indicated by UL grant DCI, all or part of the followingUL TX parameters may be configured differently.

(1) Candidate HARQ Timing Set

When inter-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated, a minimum candidate HARQtiming may be set to a larger value, and/or the interval betweenadjacent candidate HARQ timings may be configured/set to be larger thanwhen intra-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated.

(2) Candidate PUCCH Starting Symbol Set or Candidate PUCCH Resource Set

When inter-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated, a larger number ofcandidate PUCCH starting symbols or candidate PUCCH resources (e.g.,more LBT opportunities) may be set than when intra-COT PUSCHtransmission is indicated. For example, in the case of the p-A/N scheme,a plurality of starting symbols or PUCCH resources may be configured,whereas in the case of the t-A/N scheme, a single starting symbol orPUCCH resource may be configured.

(3) LBT Type

When inter-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated, a CWS for BO-based LBTmay be set to a larger value than when the intra-COT PUSCH transmissionis indicated. For example, when the inter-COT PUSCH transmission isindicated, a CWS-based BO-based LBT type may be configured. On the otherhand, when the intra-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated, a BO-less LBTtype may be configured. The BO-based LBT type may be Cat-4 LBT. As theBO-less LBT type, a UL transmission without LBT (no LBT) or Cat-2 LBT(based on a short CCA gap of 25 us) may be performed.

(4) PUSCH Resource Allocation

When inter-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated, a larger (maximum) PUSCHsymbol duration in the time domain may be configured/allocated, and asmaller (minimum) PUSCH resource size in the frequency domain may beconfigured/allocated than when intra-COT PUSCH transmission isindicated.

In addition, when inter-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated, PUCCHresources may be configured only in the form of an RB set discontinuous(e.g., in an equi-distant interlaced structure) in frequency. Whenintra-COT PUSCH transmission is indicated, PUCCH resources may beconfigured in the form of a (localized) contiguous RB set (in additionto the RB interlaced form).

Alternatively, in a method of configuring UL TX parameters, all or partof the following UL TX parameters may be configured differentlyaccording to an LBT type indicated by UL grant DCI.

When LBT type A or X is indicated, {candidate HARQ timing set, candidatePUCCH starting symbol set, PUCCH resource allocation} corresponding tointra-COT PUSCH transmission may be applied. When LBT type B or Y isindicated, {candidate HARQ timing set, candidate PUCCH starting symbolset, PUCCH resource allocation} corresponding to inter-COT PUSCHtransmission may be applied.

All or a part of the following UL TX parameters may be configureddifferently depending on an LBT type indicated by UL grant DCI.

(1) Candidate HARQ Timing Set

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, a minimum candidate HARQ timing maybe set to a larger value, and/or the interval between adjacent candidateHARQ timings may be configured/set to be larger than when LBT type A orX is indicated.

(2) Candidate PUCCH Starting Symbol Set or Candidate PUCCH Resource Set

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, a larger number of candidate PUSCHstarting symbols or candidate PUSCH resources (e.g., more LBTopportunities) may be set than when LBT type A or X is indicated. Forexample, when LBT type B or Y is indicated, a plurality of startingsymbols or PUSCH resources may be configured, whereas when LBT type A orX is indicated, a single starting symbol or PUSCH resource may beconfigured.

(3) PUSCH Transmission Type (A/N Feedback Type)

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, the inter-COT PUSCH transmissionscheme may be applied. When LBT type A or X is indicated, the intra-COTPUSCH transmission scheme may be applied.

(4) PUSCH Resource Allocation

When LBT type B or Y is indicated, a larger (maximum) PUSCH symbolduration in the time domain may be configured/set than when LBT type Aor X is indicated. And/or when LBT type B or Y is indicated, a smaller(minimum) PUSCH resource size in the frequency domain may beconfigured/set than when LBT type A or X is indicated.

In addition, when LBT type B or Y is indicated, PUCCH resources may beconfigured only in the form of an RB set discontinuous (e.g., in anequi-distant interlaced structure) in frequency. When LBT type A or X isindicated, PUCCH resources may be configured in the form of a(localized) contiguous RB set (in addition to the RB interlaced form).

Alternatively, a UL HARQ timing indicator (U-HTI)-based PUSCHtransmission method may be considered. A U-HTI is a specific field in aPDCCH/PDSCH, indicating a UL grant (DCI)-to-PUSCH transmission (HARQ)timing. A specific embodiment of the U-HTI-based PUSCH transmissionmethod will be described below.

In a method of transmitting a PUSCH based on a U-HTI, a candidate PUCCHtiming set including (the same number of) a plurality of candidate PUCCHtimings (e.g., candidate PUCCH starting slot/symbol timings) may beconfigured for each U-HTI state. A candidate PUCCH timing set for areference U-HTI state may include minimum timings (e.g. {E1, E2, E3,E4}). A candidate PUCCH timing set for a U-HTI state other than thereference U-HTI state may be configured by adding the same (e.g., slotor symbol) offset to the minimum timings (e.g., {E1+b, E2+b E3+b,E4+b}). Different offsets may be configured for the candidate PUCCHtiming sets of different U-HTI states. The plurality of minimum timings(e.g. {E1, E2, E3, E4}) may indicate different (contiguous) slots.Alternatively, the plurality of minimum timings may indicate a pluralityof different symbol timings in each of one or more (contiguous) slots.

Alternatively, in a method of transmitting a PUSCH based on a U-HTI, adifferent number of candidate PUSCH timings (in the candidate PUSCHtiming set configured for each U-HTI state) may be applied according toan LBT type indicated/configured for a PUSCH transmission. For example,all of the plurality of candidate PUSCH timings in the candidate PUSCHtiming set may be applied for LBT type B or Y. For LBT type A or X, onlya specific candidate PUSCH timing of the candidate PUSCH timing set maybe applied. The specific candidate PUSCH timing may be one earliestcandidate PUSCH timing.

Configuration of a Plurality of Candidate Resources for SRS and PRACHTransmission

To provide a plurality of LBT attempt opportunities for one SRStransmission in a U-band operation situation, various methods ofconfiguring SRS resources and transmitting an SRS from a UE in the SRSresources based on LBT will be proposed below.

A plurality of candidate SRS resources or a plurality of candidate SRSresource sets, which are multiplexed in TDM on the time axis, may beallocated to the UE. The resource index of a candidate SRS resourcestarting from (or ending in) the last starting (or ending) symbol isdefined as a resource index Y. The UE may transmit an SRS only in oneSRS resource in which the UE has first succeeded in LBT among theplurality of candidate SRS resources. Alternatively, the UE may transmitthe single SRS (repeatedly) over a plurality of SRS resources from theSRS resource in which the UE has first succeeded in LBT to the SRSresource with the resource index Y, among the plurality of candidate SRSresources.

Specifically, in the above-described SRS resource configuration methods,a plurality of sets of candidate SRS resources or candidate startingsymbols may be preconfigured by a higher-layer signal (e.g., an SIB orRRC signaling). Then, one of the sets may be indicated by a specificfield in a PDCCH (e.g., DL grant DCI). The specific field may be an SRSresource indicator (SRI) field. While candidate SRS resources are mainlydescribed below in relation to the SRI, the following description mayalso be interpreted by replacing candidate SRS resources with candidatestarting symbols. The UE may perform one of the above-described SRStransmission operations based on an indicated candidate SRS resourceset.

As described before, the intra-COT A/N transmission operation and theinter-COT A/N transmission operation may be indicated/changeddynamically. A different number of SRS resources may be included in acandidate SRS resource set corresponding to each state indicated by theSRI field (hereinafter, referred to as SRI state). For example, thenumber of SRS resources for each PRI state may be set to one of {1,C(>1)}, one of {C(>1), D(>A)}, or one of {1, C(>1), D(>C)}.

A plurality of candidate SRS resources in the (same) candidate SRSresource set configured for one SRI state may have the same RBallocation (e.g., the number/indexes of RBs) and differentstarting/ending symbol positions. For example, the plurality ofcandidate SRS resources may be configured (in TDM at the slot level)over a plurality of (contiguous) slots, with one SRS resource per slot.Alternatively, the plurality of candidate SRS resources may beconfigured over one or more (contiguous) slots, with a plurality ofresources per slot (in TDM at the symbol level). In another example, aplurality of SRS starting symbols may be configured (in TDM at the slotlevel) over a plurality of (contiguous) slots, with one starting symbolper slot. Alternatively, the plurality of SRS starting symbols may beconfigured over one or more (contiguous) slots, with a plurality ofstarting symbols per slot (in TDM at the symbol level).

Additionally, different LBT types may be configured for a plurality of(TDMed) SRS resources in the same one candidate SRS resource set(particularly, in relation to intra-COT A/N transmission). For example,(when the timing gap between the ending time of a DL transmission andthe starting time of a UL (SRS) transmission within a COT is equal to orless than a predetermined value) LBT type A or X may beconfigured/applied for/to transmission of some earliest SRS resource(s),and LBT type B or Y may be configured/applied for/to transmission of theremaining SRS resource(s) among the plurality of candidate PUCCHresources.

The SRS transmission method described in the present disclosure isapplicable in a similar manner, to an operation of indicating a PRACHtransmission to a UE (based on a configuration of a plurality ofcandidate resources) by a PDCCH/PDSCH. Specifically, the same embodimentmay be implemented by replacing 1) SRS resources (or starting symbols)with PRACH resources (or starting symbols) and 2) an SRI field (in aPDCCH (e.g., DCI)) with a PRACH resource indicator (RRI) field.

One CC or BWP configured for the UE in the U-band situation may beconfigured to be a wideband having a larger BW than in legacy LTE.However, even in this wideband CC/BWP configuration situation, a BWrequiring CCA based on an independent LBT operation may be limited(according to a specific rule). As described before, a unit subband inwhich LBT is performed individually is defined as an LBT-SB. A pluralityof LBT-SBs may be included (contiguously or non-contiguously) in onewideband CC/BWP. Based on the above configuration, a plurality ofcandidate SRS resources in time and/or frequency may beindicated/configured (by RRC signaling and/or DCI) in consideration ofLBT failure for an SRS (and the resulting dropping of the SRStransmission) in the U-band situation. The UE may transmit the SRS in aspecific (one) resource in which LBT is successful among the pluralityof candidate SRS resources.

A plurality of TDMed candidate SRS resources (e.g., a slot or symbolgroup) in time may be indicated/configured for transmission of a singleSRS. These candidate SRS resources may be referred to as candidateT-domain resources. The UE may attempt LBT in the plurality of (time)resources sequentially in time, and transmit the SRS in a specificresource in which CCA is successful (for the first time). Alternatively,a plurality of candidate SRS resources (e.g., LBT-SBs, BWPs, or CCs)distinguished by frequency may be indicated/configured for transmissionof a single SRS. These candidate SRS resources may be referred to ascandidate F-domain resources. The UE may attempt LBT in the plurality of(frequency) resources (at the same time), and transmit the SRS in aspecific resource in which CCA is successful.

In relation to an SRS transmission, candidate SRS resources of which thedomain is not explicitly indicated may be candidate T-domain resourcesin the present disclosure. One candidate T-domain resource may includeone or more candidate F-domain resources. A method of allocating SRSresources and transmitting an SRS, based on candidate T/F-domainresources may be considered. In the following description, a specificfield of a PDCCH (e.g., DCI) indicating a PDSCH-to-SRS transmission(HARD) timing may be referred to as an SRS timing indicator (STI) field.

In a method of allocating SRS resources and transmitting an SRS, basedon candidate T/F-domain resources, a plurality of candidate T-domainresources may be indicated by an SRI field.

In a method of indicating a plurality of candidate T-domain resources byan SRI field, a candidate SRS resource set including (the same numberof) a plurality of candidate T-domain resources may be configured foreach SRI state. The candidate T-domain resources of the (same) candidateSRS resource set configured for one SRI state may have the same RBallocation (e.g., the number/indexes of RBs), and different starting orending symbol positions. For example, the plurality of candidateT-domain resources may be configured (in TDM at the slot level) over aplurality of (consecutive) slots, with one resource per slot.Alternatively, the plurality of candidate T-domain resources may beconfigured over one or more (consecutive) slots, with a plurality ofresources per slot (in TDM at the symbol level). Once candidate SRSresource set(s) including (the same number of) a plurality of candidateT-domain resources are configured for each SRI state, one SRS timing maybe configured for each STI state. The SRS timing indicated by the STIfield may be the transmission timing of the earliest candidate T-domainresource in one candidate SRS resource set.

Alternatively, in a method of indicating a plurality of candidateT-domain resources by an SRI field, a different number of candidateT-domain resources (in the resource set configured for each SRI state)may be allocated according to an LBT type indicated/configured for anSRS transmission. For example, all of a plurality of candidate T-domainresources included in a candidate SRS resource set may be allocated forLBT type B or Y. For LBT type A or X, only a specific candidate T-domainresource of the candidate SRS resource set may be allocated. Thespecific candidate T-domain resource may be one earliest candidateT-domain resource.

The UE may transmit the SRS only in one of a plurality of allocatedcandidate T-domain resources, in which the UE has first succeeded inLBT. Alternatively, the UE may transmit the single SRS (repeatedly) overa plurality of SRS resources from the candidate T-domain resource inwhich the UE has first succeeded in LBT to a candidate T-domain resourcewith a resource index Y.

Further, in an A/N PUCCH resource allocation and transmission methodbased on candidate T/F-domain resources, a plurality of candidateT-domain resources may be indicated by the STI field.

In a method of indicating a candidate T-domain resource by an STI field,a candidate SRS timing set including (the same number of) a plurality ofcandidate SRS timings (e.g., candidate SRS starting slot/symbol timings)may be configured for each STI state. A candidate SRS timing set for areference STI state may include minimum timings (e.g. {F1, F2, F3, F4}).A candidate SRS timing set for an HTI state other than the reference STIstate may be configured by adding the same (e.g., slot or symbol) offsetto the minimum timings (e.g., {F1+c, F2+c, F3+c, F4+c}). Differentoffsets may be configured for the candidate SRS timing sets of differentHTI states. The plurality of minimum timings (e.g. {F1, F2, F3, F4}) mayindicate different (contiguous) slots. Alternatively, the plurality ofminimum timings may indicate a plurality of different symbol timings ineach of one or more (contiguous) slots. When a plurality of differentsymbol timings in each slot are indicated, the starting symbol of an SRSresource may be determined based on an indicated symbol timing (e.g., onthe assumption that the timing is symbol index 0). When a set of (thesame number of) a plurality of candidate SRS timings are configured foreach STI state, one (T-domain) SRS resource may be configured for eachSRI state. The (plurality of) timings of the SRS timing set may beapplied as the transmission timings of SRS resources for the respectiveSRI states.

Further, in a method of indicating a candidate T-domain resource by anSTI field, a different number of candidate SRS timings (in the candidateSRS timing set configured for each STI state) may be applied accordingto an LBT type indicated/configured for an SRS transmission. Forexample, all of the plurality of candidate SRS timings in the candidateSRS timing set may be applied for LBT type B or Y. For LBT type A or X,only a specific candidate SRS timing of the candidate SRS timing set maybe applied. The specific candidate SRS timing may be one earliestcandidate SRS timing.

For a plurality of candidate T-domain resources configured by applying aplurality of candidate SRS timings to one SRS resource, the UE maytransmit an SRS only in one of the plurality of candidate T domainresources, in which the UE has first succeeded in LBT. Alternatively,the UE may transmit the single SRS (repeatedly) over a plurality of SRSresources from the SRS resource in which the UE has first succeeded inLBT to an SRS resource with a resource index Y, among the plurality ofcandidate T-domain resources.

Further, in an SRS resource allocation and transmission method based oncandidate T/F-domain resources, a plurality of candidate F-domainresources may be indicated by the SRI field.

In a method of indicating a plurality of candidate F-domain resources byan SRI field, a candidate SRS resource set including a plurality ofcandidate F-domain resources may be configured for each SRI state. Foreach SRI state, the number of candidate F-domain resources per candidateSRS resource may be the same or different. A plurality of candidateF-domain resources included in the (same) candidate SRS resource set ofone PM state may have different CC/BWP/LBT-SB configurations, the sameRB allocation (in each CC/BWP/LBT-SB), and the same starting and/orending symbol positions.

Alternatively, in a method of indicating a plurality of candidateF-domain resources by an SRI field, a different number of candidateF-domain resources (in the resource set configured for each PRI state)may be allocated according to an LBT type indicated/configured for anSRS transmission. For example, all of the plurality of candidateF-domain resources which are included in the candidate SRS resource set(and/or located in a gNB-initiated COT in frequency) may be allocatedfor LBT type Y or B, whereas only a specific candidate F-domain resourceamong the plurality of candidate F-domain resources which are includedin the candidate SRS resource set (and/or located in the gNB-initiatedCOT in frequency) may be allocated for LBT type X or A. The specificcandidate F-domain resource may be one candidate F-domain resourcelocated at the lowest frequency.

The UE may attempt LBT in a plurality of allocated candidate F-domainresources (at the same time) and transmit an A/N SRS in a specificresource in which the UE succeeds in CCA.

As described above, the methods of indicating a plurality of candidateT-domain/F-domain resources by an SRI field are applicable to a PRACHtransmission of a UE in a similar manner. Specifically, the sameembodiment may be implemented by replacing 1) (T-domain/F-domain) SRSresources with (T-domain/F-domain) PRACH resources, 1) an SRI field (ina PDCCH (e.g., DCI)) with an RRI field, 3) an STI field (in a PDCC/DCI)with a PDCCH-to-PRACH timing indicator (RTI) field, and 4) an SRS timing(or starting slot/symbol) with a PRACH timing (or starting slot/symbol).

Overlap Between A/N Feedback and (PUCCH) Transmission

The UE may be indicated to transmit an A/N for the same one PDSCH (atdifferent time points) based on both of the t-A/N scheme and the p-A/Nscheme. In this case, the UE may transmit the A/N for the PDSCH 1) basedon the two A/N schemes, 2) only at a time when LBT is first successfulin either of the two A/N schemes, or 3) only in the p-A/N scheme.Further, the A/N transmission timings of two A/N (e.g., p-A/N) feedbackstriggered at different time points may overlap with each other (due tofailure of LBT for the earlier triggered A/N feedback transmission). Inthis case, (with respect to the overlapped time point) the UE maytransmit 1) the later (or earlier) triggered A/N (e.g., p-A/N) feedback,or 2) an A/N (e.g., p-A/N) feedback corresponding to more (CCs and/or)HARQ process IDs or a larger total-DAI value.

When an A/N feedback operation (e.g., dynamic switching between thet-A/N scheme and the p-A/N scheme) is applied based on DAI signaling, amismatch may occur between the BS and the UE, regarding a correct A/Nfeedback transmission/reception time in a state where the DAI signaling(e.g., by a modulo operation) is performed in a limited number of bits.

FIG. 13 illustrates an A/N mismatch in a DAI-based A/N feedback process.

For the operation of FIG. 13, the t-A/N scheme may be referred to. Forexample, the BS may preconfigure a plurality of candidate HARQ timingsby RRC signaling and then indicate one of the candidate HARQ timings tothe UE by (DL grant DCI). Accordingly, when an A/N transmission in slot#m is indicated, A/N information may include response information for aPDSCH reception in slot #(m-i). Slot #(m-i) corresponds to a candidateHARQ timing. FIG. 13 illustrates candidate HARQ timings with i={2, 3, 4,5}. (DL grant) DCI may signal a DAI together with an HARQ timingindicator. The DAI may represent a modulo value of a scheduling order.For example, it is assumed that the DAI is m-bit (e.g., 2-bit)information ranging from 1 to 2m, and the scheduling order startsfrom 1. In this case, the DAI value may correspond to [scheduling ordermod 2m].

-   -   When the DAI value is 00 (e.g., DAI value=1), this indicates 4        n+1 (i.e., 1, 5, 9, . . . ).    -   When the DAI value is 01 (e.g., DAI value=3), this indicates 4        n+2 (i.e., 2, 6, 10, . . . ).    -   When the DAI value is 10 (e.g., DAI value=3), this indicates 4        n+3 (i.e., 3, 7, 11, . . . ).    -   When the DAI value is 11 (e.g., DAI value=4), this indicates 4        n+4 (i.e., 4, 8, 12, . . . ).    -   n is an integer equal to or larger than 0.    -   On the assumption that the DAI has a value ranging from 0 to        2^(m)−1, the DAI value may be represented as [(scheduling order        mod 2^(m))−1]

The DAI may specify the scheduling order of a PDSCH or the schedulingorder of a PDCCH/DCI. Further, the DAI may include a c-DAI and/or at-DAI.

FIG. 13(a) illustrates successful transmission of an A/N feedback forslot group #A at a UE (e.g., LBT success). An A/N feedback in slot#(n+5) is generated based on a DAI sequence (i.e., DAI=1/2/3) (slot#n+1/#n+2/#n+3). Subsequently, the UE may be requested to transmit a newA/N feedback in slot #(n+12). In this case, the UE may generate an A/Nfeedback based on a DAI sequence (i.e., DAI=½) (slot group #A; slot#n+8/#n+10) starting after transmission of the previous A/N feedback.For example, A/N information/bits may be arranged in an A/N feedbackaccording to the sequence of DAI values. Further, the size of the A/Nfeedback may be determined based on the last value of a scheduled DAI orthe number of candidate HARQ timings. The A/N feedback includes A/Npayload or an A/N codebook.

FIG. 13(b) illustrates failure of an A/N feedback transmission for slotgroup #A at a UE (e.g., LBT failure). An A/N feedback in slot #(n+5) maybe retransmitted in a next A/N transmission opportunity. For example,when an A/N feedback transmission in slot #(n+12) is requested, the UEmay generate an A/N feedback based on a DAI sequence (i.e.,DAI=1/2/3/4/1/2) starting from a time point (e.g., slot group #A)corresponding to the previous A/N feedback. Because of the absence of aPDSCH reception corresponding to DAI=4, the UE may set an A/Ncorresponding to DAI=4 as NACK in the A/N feedback in slot #(n+12).

In the U-band, an A/N feedback may be failed for various reasons in viewof the nature of the unlicensed band. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 16, the UE may drop/defer an A/N feedback due to LBT failure.Moreover, although the UE has succeeded in transmitting an A/N feedbackafter LBT success, the BS may fail in receiving/detecting the A/Nfeedback. Therefore, there may be ambiguity (between the UE and the BS)about a time from which a set of DAI values (e.g., a DAI sequence)corresponding to an indicated A/N feedback starts, thereby causing amismatch in A/N codebook configuration/size between the UE and the BS.

To avert the above problem, a method of including an indicator (a DAIsequence flag (DSF)) in DL grant DCI that schedules a PDSCH and/or DCIthat triggers an A/N transmission (based on a p-A/N feedback) may beconsidered. The DSF may be used to indicate a DAI sequence to which aDAI corresponding to a current scheduled/transmitted PDSCH and/or a DAIfor a current triggered A/N feedback belongs. The DSF may be configuredin one bit. In this case, the DSF may indicate whether the DAIcorresponding to the current scheduled/transmitted PDSCH and/or the DAIfor the current triggered A/N feedback belongs to a DAI sequence “0” or“1”. When the DSF is configured in one bit, the DSF may be signaled in atoggled form. For example, when a DSF value toggled from a DSF valuereceived in previous (recent) DCI is indicated by current DCI, the DAIsequence “0” may be indicated. On the other hand, when a non-toggled DSFvalue from the DSF value received in the previous (recent) DCI isindicated by the current DCI, the DAI sequence “1” may be indicated. TheDAI sequence “0” may correspond to the DAI sequence (i.e., DAI=½) ofFIG. 16(a) (see slot group #A; slot #n+8/#n+10), and the DAI sequence“1” may correspond to the DAI sequence (i.e., DAI=1/2/3/4/1/2) of FIG.13(b) (see slot group #A/#B).

FIG. 14 illustrates an A/N feedback process according to the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 14, the UE may receive schedulinginformation including a DAI value and a 1-bit indicator (S1702). The DAIvalue may represent a modulo value of a scheduling order. For example,the DAI value may be given as [scheduling order mod 4]. The schedulingorder may be the scheduling order of a PDSCH or the scheduling order ofa PDCCH/DCI. The UE may then receive data based on the schedulinginformation (S1704). Subsequently, the UE may transmit an A/N feedbackincluding A/N information for the data (S1706). The A/N feedbackincludes A/N payload or an A/N codebook. The A/N feedback may betransmitted on a PUCCH or a PUSCH.

The position of the A/N information in the A/N feedback may bedetermined based on (1) the DAI value and (2) whether the bit value ofthe 1-bit indicator has been toggled. For example, the A/N feedback isconfigured based on one of two DAI sequences, which is determinedaccording to the bit value of the 1-bit indicator or whether the bitvalue of the 1-bit indicator has been toggled, and the DAI value mayindicate a scheduling order based on the determined DAI sequence. Forexample, the A/N information/bit may be arranged in the A/N feedbackaccording to the order of the DAI value. The size of the A/N feedbackmay be determined based on the last value of the scheduled DAI or thenumber of candidate HARQ timings.

One of the two DAI sequences, a first DAI sequence may correspond to a1-bit indicator having a bit value of 0 (or 1) or a toggled value, andinclude a first number of DAI values. On the other hand, the other DAIsequence, a second DAI sequence may correspond to a 1-bit indicatorhaving a bit value of 1 (or 0) or a non-toggled value, and include asecond number of DAI values. The first number may be smaller than thesecond number.

The DAI may indicate the scheduling order of the data within a timewindow. In this case, the first DAI sequence between the two DAIsequences may correspond to the 1-bit indicator having a bit value of 0(or 1) or a toggled value, and may correspond to a time window startingfrom a first time point. On the other hand, the second DAI sequence maycorrespond to the 1-bit indicator having a bit value of 1 (or 0) or anon-toggled value, and may correspond to a time window starting from asecond time point. The first time point may be later than the secondtime point.

Based on the 1-bit indicator having been toggled, the DAI value mayindicate the scheduling order of only data after the previous A/Nfeedback. On the other hand, based on the 1-bit indicator having notbeen toggled, the DAI value may indicate the scheduling order of (i)data related to the previous A/N feedback, and (ii) the data after theA/N feedback.

Based on the 1-bit indicator having been toggled, the A/N feedback mayindicate only a data reception state after the previous A/N feedback. Onthe other hand, based on the 1-bit indicator having not been toggled,the A/N feedback may indicate (i) the previous A/N feedback and (ii) thedata reception state after the A/N feedback.

The transmission of the A/N feedback may be performed according to anLBT result.

FIG. 15 illustrates an A/N feedback according to the present disclosure.The basic situation is the same as in FIG. 13. Accordingly, thedescription of FIG. 13 may be referred to for basics.

Referring to FIG. 15(a), the UE may receive a PDSCH in slot#(n+8)/#(n+10). The PDSCH of slot #(n+8) is scheduled by DCI having afirst DAI of 00 and a first DSF of 1, and the PDSCH of slot #(n+10) maybe scheduled by DCI with a second DAI of 01 and a second DSF of 1. Sincethe value of the first DSF has been toggled from the DSF value of theprevious DCI (e.g., DCI scheduling the PDSCH of slot #(n+3)), the firstDAI belongs to a DAI sequence different from the previous DAI sequence.For example, the first DAI may belong to a DAI sequence (e.g., the DAIsequence of 1) starting in slot group #B. In addition, since the valueof the second DSF of 1 has not been toggled from the value of the firstDSF, the second DAI belongs to the same DAI sequence as the previous DAIsequence (i.e., the DAI sequence 1). Thereafter, the UE may transmit anA/N feedback generated based on the DAI sequence 1 in slot #(n+12).Specifically, the UE may generate the A/N feedback based on the DAIsequence starting after transmission of the previous A/N feedback (i.e.,DAI=½) (see slot group #A; slot #n+8/#n+10).

Referring to FIG. 15(b), the UE may receive a PDSCH in slot#(n+8)/#(n+10). The PDSCH of slot #(n+8) is scheduled by DCI having afirst DAI of 00 and a first DSF of 0, and the PDSCH of slot #(n+10) isscheduled by DCI having a second DAI of 01 and a second DSF of 0. Thefirst DAI belongs to the same DAI sequence as the previous DAI sequencebecause the value of the first DSF has not been toggled from the DSFvalue of the previous DCI (e.g., DCI scheduling the PDSCH of slot#(n+3)). For example, the first DAI may belong to a DAI sequence (e.g.,DAI sequence 0) starting in slot group #A. In addition, since the valueof the second DSF of 1 has not been toggled from the value of the firstDSF, the second DAI belongs to the same DAI sequence as the previous DAIsequence (i.e., DAI sequence 0). Then, the UE may transmit the A/Nfeedback generated based on the DAI sequence 0 in slot #(n+12).Specifically, the UE may generate the A/N feedback based on a DAIsequence (i.e., DAI=1/2/3/4/1/2) starting from a time pointcorresponding to the previous A/N feedback (e.g., slot group #A). Sincethere is no PDSCH reception corresponding to DAI=4, the UE may set theA/N corresponding to DAI=4 as NACK (or DTX) in the A/N feedback of slot#(n+10).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a signal reception method accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16, embodiments of the present disclosure, which maybe performed by a communication device, may include receiving DCIincluding DL scheduling information and a PRI (S1101), receiving DL databased on the DCI (S1103), performing LBT for a plurality of PUCCHresources corresponding to a value of the PRI (S1105), and transmittingACK/NACK information for the DL data in one or more PUCCH resources inwhich LBT is successful, among the plurality of PUCCH resources (S1107).

Specifically, the plurality of PUCCH resources may be candidate T-domainresources distinguished in time. In this case, LBT is sequentiallyperformed in the time domain, and ACK/NACK information for the DL datamay be transmitted in one or more PUCCH resources including the PUCCHresource in which LBT is initially successful.

Alternatively, the plurality of PUCCH resources may be candidateF-domain resources distinguished in frequency. In this case, LBT issimultaneously performed in the frequency domain, and as a result,ACK/NACK information for the DL data may be transmitted in one or morePUCCH resources in which LBT is successful.

An LBT type configured for the UE for ACK/NACK information transmissionmay be LBT type A or X, or LBT type B or Y. When the LBT type for theACK/NACK information transmission is LBT type A or X, the number ofPUCCH resources corresponding to the value of the PM may be set to besmaller than the number of PUCCH resources corresponding to the value ofthe PM, when the LBT type is LBT type B or Y.

In addition to the operation of FIG. 16, one or more of the operationsdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15 may be combined andadditionally performed.

Network Access and Communication Process

The UE may perform a network access process to perform theabove-described/proposed procedures and/or methods. For example, the UEmay receive and store system information and configuration informationrequired to perform the above-described/proposed procedures and/ormethods during network access (e.g., BS access). The configurationinformation required for the present disclosure may be received byhigher-layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling or MAC-layer signaling).

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an initial network access andsubsequent communication process. In NR, a physical channel and an RSmay be transmitted by beamforming. When beamforming-based signaltransmission is supported, beam management may follow, for beamalignment between a BS and a UE. Further, a signal proposed by thepresent disclosure may be transmitted/received by beamforming. In RRCIDLE mode, beam alignment may be performed based on an SSB, whereas inRRC CONNECTED mode, beam alignment may be performed based on a CSI-RS(in DL) and an SRS (in UL). On the contrary, when beamforming-basedsignal transmission is not supported, beam-related operations in thefollowing description may be skipped.

Referring to FIG. 17, a BS (e.g., eNB) may periodically transmit an SSB(S702). The SSB includes a PSS/SSS/PBCH. The SSB may be transmitted bybeam sweeping (see FIG. D5). The PBCH may include a master informationblock (MSB), and the MIB may include scheduling information forremaining minimum system information (RMSI). The BS may then transmitthe RMSI and other system information (OSI) (S704). The RMSI may includeinformation required for initial access to the BS (e.g., PRACHconfiguration information). After detecting SSBs, the UE identifies thebest SSB. The UE may then transmit an RACH preamble (Message 1; Msg1) inPRACH resources linked/corresponding to the index (i.e., beam) of thebest SSB (S706). The beam direction of the RACH preamble is associatedwith the PRACH resources. Association between PRACH resources (and/orRACH preambles) and SSBs (SSB indexes) may be configured by systeminformation (e.g., RMSI). Subsequently, in an RACH procedure, the BS maytransmit a random access response (RAR) (Msg2) in response to the RACHpreamble (S708), the UE may transmit Msg3 (e.g., RRC Connection Request)based on a UL grant included in the RAR (S710), and the BS may transmita contention resolution message (Msg4) (S720). Msg4 may include RRCConnection Setup.

When an RRC connection is established between the BS and the UE in theRACH procedure, beam alignment may subsequently be performed based on anSSB/CSI-RS (in DL) and an SRS (in UL). For example, the UE may receivean SSB/CSI-RS (S714). The SSB/CSI-RS may be used for the UE to generatea beam/CSI report. The BS may request the UE to transmit a beam/CSIreport, by DCI (S716). In this case, the UE may generate a beam/CSIreport based on the SSB/CSI-RS and transmit the generated beam/CSIreport to the BS on a PUSCH/PUCCH (S718). The beam/CSI report mayinclude a beam measurement result, information about a preferred beam,and so on. The BS and the UE may switch beams based on the beam/CSIreport (S720 a and S720 b).

Subsequently, the UE and the BS may perform the above-described/proposedprocedures and/or methods. For example, the UE and the BS may transmit awireless signal by processing information stored in a memory or mayprocess a received wireless signal and store the processed signal in amemory according to the proposal of the present disclosure, based onconfiguration information obtained in a network access process (e.g., asystem information acquisition process, an RRC connection process on anRACH, and so on). The wireless signal may include at least one of aPDCCH, a PDSCH, or an RS on DL and at least one of a PUCCH, a PUSCH, oran SRS on UL.

In other words, one or more of the operations described before withreference to FIG. 14 and/or FIG. 16 may further be performed after theprocess illustrated in FIG. 17.

Example of Communication System to which the Present Disclosure isApplied

The various descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods,and/or operation flowcharts of the present disclosure described hereinmay be applied to, but not limited to, various fields requiring wirelesscommunication/connectivity (e.g., 5G) between devices.

More specific examples will be described below with reference to thedrawings. In the following drawings/description, like reference numeralsdenote the same or corresponding hardware blocks, software blocks, orfunction blocks, unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 18 illustrates a communication system 1 applied to the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 18, the communication system 1 applied to the presentdisclosure includes wireless devices, BSs, and a network. A wirelessdevice is a device performing communication using radio accesstechnology (RAT) (e.g., 5G NR (or New RAT) or LTE), also referred to asa communication/radio/5G device. The wireless devices may include, notlimited to, a robot 100 a, vehicles 100 b-1 and 100 b-2, an extendedreality (XR) device 100 c, a hand-held device 100 d, a home appliance100 e, an IoT device 100 f, and an artificial intelligence (AI)device/server 400. For example, the vehicles may include a vehiclehaving a wireless communication function, an autonomous driving vehicle,and a vehicle capable of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. Herein,the vehicles may include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (e.g., adrone). The XR device may include an augmented reality (AR)/virtualreality (VR)/mixed reality (MR) device and may be implemented in theform of a head-mounted device (HMD), a head-up display (HUD) mounted ina vehicle, a television (TV), a smartphone, a computer, a wearabledevice, a home appliance, a digital signage, a vehicle, a robot, and soon. The hand-held device may include a smartphone, a smart pad, awearable device (e.g., a smart watch or smart glasses), and a computer(e.g., a laptop). The home appliance may include a TV, a refrigerator, awashing machine, and so on. The IoT device may include a sensor, a smartmeter, and so on. For example, the BSs and the network may beimplemented as wireless devices, and a specific wireless device 200 amay operate as a BS/network node for other wireless devices.

The wireless devices 100 a to 100 f may be connected to the network 300via the BSs 200. An AI technology may be applied to the wireless devices100 a to 100 f, and the wireless devices 100 a to 100 f may be connectedto the AI server 400 via the network 300. The network 300 may beconfigured using a 3G network, a 4G (e.g., LTE) network, or a 5G (e.g.,NR) network. Although the wireless devices 100 a to 100 f maycommunicate with each other through the BSs 200/network 300, thewireless devices 100 a to 100 f may perform direct communication (e.g.,sidelink communication) with each other without intervention of theBSs/network. For example, the vehicles 100 b-1 and 100 b-2 may performdirect communication (e.g. V2V/vehicle-to-everything (V2X)communication). The IoT device (e.g., a sensor) may perform directcommunication with other IoT devices (e.g., sensors) or other wirelessdevices 100 a to 100 f.

Wireless communication/connections 150 a, 150 b, and 150 c may beestablished between the wireless devices 100 a to 100 f/BS 200 andbetween the BSs 200. Herein, the wireless communication/connections maybe established through various RATs (e.g., 5G NR) such as UL/DLcommunication 150 a, sidelink communication 150 b (or, D2Dcommunication), or inter-BS communication (e.g. relay or integratedaccess backhaul (IAB)). Wireless signals may be transmitted and receivedbetween the wireless devices, between the wireless devices and the BSs,and between the BSs through the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150 b, and 150 c. For example, signals may be transmitted and receivedon various physical channels through the wirelesscommunication/connections 150 a, 150 b and 150 c. To this end, at leasta part of various configuration information configuring processes,various signal processing processes (e.g., channel encoding/decoding,modulation/demodulation, and resource mapping/demapping), and resourceallocation processes, for transmitting/receiving wireless signals, maybe performed based on the various proposals of the present disclosure.

Example of Wireless Device to which the Present Disclosure is Applied

FIG. 19 illustrates wireless devices applicable to the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 19, a first wireless device 100 and a second wirelessdevice 200 may transmit wireless signals through a variety of RATs(e.g., LTE and NR). {The first wireless device 100 and the secondwireless device 200} may correspond to {the wireless device 100 x andthe BS 200} and/or {the wireless device 100 x and the wireless device100 x} of FIG. 18.

The first wireless device 100 may include one or more processors 102 andone or more memories 104, and further include one or more transceivers106 and/or one or more antennas 108. The processor(s) 102 may controlthe memory(s) 104 and/or the transceiver(s) 106 and may be configured toimplement the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods,and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in this document. For example, theprocessor(s) 102 may process information in the memory(s) 104 togenerate first information/signals and then transmit wireless signalsincluding the first information/signals through the transceiver(s) 106.The processor(s) 102 may receive wireless signals including secondinformation/signals through the transceiver(s) 106 and then storeinformation obtained by processing the second information/signals in thememory(s) 104. The memory(s) 104 may be connected to the processor(s)102 and may store various pieces of information related to operations ofthe processor(s) 102. For example, the memory(s) 104 may store softwarecode including instructions for performing all or a part of processescontrolled by the processor(s) 102 or for performing the descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document. The processor(s) 102 and the memory(s) 104may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed toimplement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver(s) 106 may be connectedto the processor(s) 102 and transmit and/or receive wireless signalsthrough the one or more antennas 108. Each of the transceiver(s) 106 mayinclude a transmitter and/or a receiver. The transceiver(s) 106 may beinterchangeably used with radio frequency (RF) unit(s). In the presentdisclosure, the wireless device may be a communicationmodem/circuit/chip.

The second wireless device 200 may include one or more processors 202and one or more memories 204, and further include one or moretransceivers 206 and/or one or more antennas 208. The processor(s) 202may control the memory(s) 204 and/or the transceiver(s) 206 and may beconfigured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument. For example, the processor(s) 202 may process information inthe memory(s) 204 to generate third information/signals and thentransmit wireless signals including the third information/signalsthrough the transceiver(s) 206. The processor(s) 202 may receivewireless signals including fourth information/signals through thetransceiver(s) 106 and then store information obtained by processing thefourth information/signals in the memory(s) 204. The memory(s) 204 maybe connected to the processor(s) 202 and store various pieces ofinformation related to operations of the processor(s) 202. For example,the memory(s) 204 may store software code including instructions forperforming all or a part of processes controlled by the processor(s) 202or for performing the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals,methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in this document. Theprocessor(s) 202 and the memory(s) 204 may be a part of a communicationmodem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). Thetransceiver(s) 206 may be connected to the processor(s) 202 and transmitand/or receive wireless signals through the one or more antennas 208.Each of the transceiver(s) 206 may include a transmitter and/or areceiver. The transceiver(s) 206 may be interchangeably used with RFunit(s). In the present disclosure, the wireless device may be acommunication modem/circuit/chip.

Now, hardware elements of the wireless devices 100 and 200 will bedescribed in greater detail. One or more protocol layers may beimplemented by, not limited to, one or more processors 102 and 202. Forexample, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may implement one ormore layers (e.g., functional layers such as physical (PHY), mediumaccess control (MAC), radio link control (RLC), packet data convergenceprotocol (PDCP), RRC, and service data adaptation protocol (SDAP)). Theone or more processors 102 and 202 may generate one or more protocoldata units (PDUs) and/or one or more service data Units (SDUs) accordingto the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/oroperation flowcharts disclosed in this document. The one or moreprocessors 102 and 202 may generate messages, control information, data,or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument and provide the messages, control information, data, orinformation to one or more transceivers 106 and 206. The one or moreprocessors 102 and 202 may generate signals (e.g., baseband signals)including PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, orinformation according to the descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument and provide the generated signals to the one or moretransceivers 106 and 206. The one or more processors 102 and 202 mayreceive the signals (e.g., baseband signals) from the one or moretransceivers 106 and 206 and acquire the PDUs, SDUs, messages, controlinformation, data, or information according to the descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document.

The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be referred to ascontrollers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or microcomputers. Theone or more processors 102 and 202 may be implemented by hardware,firmware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, one or moreapplication specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more digitalsignal processors (DSPs), one or more digital signal processing devices(DSPDs), one or more programmable logic devices (PLDs), or one or morefield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) may be included in the one ormore processors 102 and 202. The descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument may be implemented using firmware or software, and the firmwareor software may be configured to include the modules, procedures, orfunctions. Firmware or software configured to perform the descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document may be included in the one or more processors102 and 202 or may be stored in the one or more memories 104 and 204 andexecuted by the one or more processors 102 and 202. The descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document may be implemented using firmware or softwarein the form of code, an instruction, and/or a set of instructions.

The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or moreprocessors 102 and 202 and store various types of data, signals,messages, information, programs, code, instructions, and/or commands.The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be configured to includeread-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), flash memories, harddrives, registers, cash memories, computer-readable storage media,and/or combinations thereof. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may belocated at the interior and/or exterior of the one or more processors102 and 202. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected tothe one or more processors 102 and 202 through various technologies suchas wired or wireless connection.

The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, controlinformation, and/or wireless signals/channels, mentioned in the methodsand/or operation flowcharts of this document, to one or more otherdevices. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data,control information, and/or wireless signals/channels, mentioned in thedescriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/oroperation flowcharts disclosed in this document, from one or more otherdevices. For example, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may beconnected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and transmit andreceive wireless signals. For example, the one or more processors 102and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and206 may transmit user data, control information, or wireless signals toone or more other devices. The one or more processors 102 and 202 mayperform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 mayreceive user data, control information, or wireless signals from one ormore other devices. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may beconnected to the one or more antennas 108 and 208 and the one or moretransceivers 106 and 206 may be configured to transmit and receive userdata, control information, and/or wireless signals/channels, mentionedin the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/oroperation flowcharts disclosed in this document, through the one or moreantennas 108 and 208. In this document, the one or more antennas may bea plurality of physical antennas or a plurality of logical antennas(e.g., antenna ports). The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 mayconvert received wireless signals/channels from RF band signals intobaseband signals in order to process received user data, controlinformation, and wireless signals/channels using the one or moreprocessors 102 and 202. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 mayconvert the user data, control information, and wirelesssignals/channels processed using the one or more processors 102 and 202from the baseband signals into the RF band signals. To this end, the oneor more transceivers 106 and 206 may include (analog) oscillators and/orfilters.

Example of Use of Wireless Device to which the Present Disclosure isApplied

FIG. 20 illustrates another example of a wireless device applied to thepresent disclosure. The wireless device may be implemented in variousforms according to a use case/service (refer to FIG. 18).

Referring to FIG. 20, wireless devices 100 and 200 may correspond to thewireless devices 100 and 200 of FIG. 18 and may be configured to includevarious elements, components, units/portions, and/or modules. Forexample, each of the wireless devices 100 and 200 may include acommunication unit 110, a control unit 120, a memory unit 130, andadditional components 140. The communication unit 110 may include acommunication circuit 112 and transceiver(s) 114. For example, thecommunication circuit 112 may include the one or more processors 102 and202 and/or the one or more memories 104 and 204 of FIG. 20. For example,the transceiver(s) 114 may include the one or more transceivers 106 and206 and/or the one or more antennas 108 and 208 of FIG. 20. The controlunit 120 is electrically connected to the communication unit 110, thememory 130, and the additional components 140 and provides overallcontrol to the wireless device. For example, the control unit 120 maycontrol an electric/mechanical operation of the wireless device based onprograms/code/instructions/information stored in the memory unit 130.The control unit 120 may transmit the information stored in the memoryunit 130 to the outside (e.g., other communication devices) via thecommunication unit 110 through a wireless/wired interface or store, inthe memory unit 130, information received through the wireless/wiredinterface from the outside (e.g., other communication devices) via thecommunication unit 110.

The additional components 140 may be configured in various mannersaccording to type of the wireless device. For example, the additionalcomponents 140 may include at least one of a power unit/battery,input/output (I/O) unit, a driving unit, and a computing unit. Thewireless device may be implemented in the form of, not limited to, therobot (100 a of FIG. 18), the vehicles (100 b-1 and 100 b-2 of FIG. 18),the XR device (100 c of FIG. 18), the hand-held device (100 d of FIG.18), the home appliance (100 e of FIG. 18), the IoT device (100 f ofFIG. 18), a digital broadcasting terminal, a hologram device, a publicsafety device, an MTC device, a medical device, a FinTech device (or afinance device), a security device, a climate/environment device, the AIserver/device (400 of FIG. 18), the BSs (200 of FIG. 18), a networknode, or the like. The wireless device may be mobile or fixed accordingto a use case/service.

In FIG. 20, all of the various elements, components, units/portions,and/or modules in the wireless devices 100 and 200 may be connected toeach other through a wired interface or at least a part thereof may bewirelessly connected through the communication unit 110. For example, ineach of the wireless devices 100 and 200, the control unit 120 and thecommunication unit 110 may be connected by wire and the control unit 120and first units (e.g., 130 and 140) may be wirelessly connected throughthe communication unit 110. Each element, component, unit/portion,and/or module in the wireless devices 100 and 200 may further includeone or more elements. For example, the control unit 120 may beconfigured with a set of one or more processors. For example, thecontrol unit 120 may be configured with a set of a communication controlprocessor, an application processor, an electronic control unit (ECU), agraphical processing unit, and a memory control processor. In anotherexample, the memory 130 may be configured with a RAM, a dynamic RAM(DRAM), a ROM, a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory,and/or a combination thereof.

Example of Vehicle or Autonomous Driving Vehicle to which the PresentDisclosure is Applied

FIG. 21 illustrates a vehicle or an autonomous driving vehicle appliedto the present disclosure. The vehicle or autonomous driving vehicle maybe implemented as a mobile robot, a car, a train, a manned/unmannedaerial vehicle (AV), a ship, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 21, a vehicle or autonomous driving vehicle 100 mayinclude an antenna unit 108, a communication unit 110, a control unit120, a driving unit 140 a, a power supply unit 140 b, a sensor unit 140c, and an autonomous driving unit 140 d. The antenna unit 108 may beconfigured as a part of the communication unit 110. The blocks110/130/140 a to 140 d correspond to the blocks 110/130/140 of FIG. 20,respectively.

The communication unit 110 may transmit and receive signals (e.g., dataand control signals) to and from external devices such as othervehicles, BSs (e.g., gNBs and road side units), and servers. The controlunit 120 may perform various operations by controlling elements of thevehicle or the autonomous driving vehicle 100. The control unit 120 mayinclude an ECU. The driving unit 140 a may enable the vehicle or theautonomous driving vehicle 100 to drive on a road. The driving unit 140a may include an engine, a motor, a powertrain, a wheel, a brake, asteering device, and so on. The power supply unit 140 b may supply powerto the vehicle or the autonomous driving vehicle 100 and include awired/wireless charging circuit, a battery, and so on. The sensor unit140 c may acquire information about a vehicle state, ambient environmentinformation, user information, and so on. The sensor unit 140 c mayinclude an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, a collision sensor, awheel sensor, a speed sensor, a slope sensor, a weight sensor, a headingsensor, a position module, a vehicle forward/backward sensor, a batterysensor, a fuel sensor, a tire sensor, a steering sensor, a temperaturesensor, a humidity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an illumination sensor,a pedal position sensor, and so on. The autonomous driving unit 140 dmay implement technology for maintaining a lane on which the vehicle isdriving, technology for automatically adjusting speed, such as adaptivecruise control, technology for autonomously driving along a determinedpath, technology for driving by automatically setting a route if adestination is set, and the like.

For example, the communication unit 110 may receive map data, trafficinformation data, and so on from an external server. The autonomousdriving unit 140 d may generate an autonomous driving route and adriving plan from the obtained data. The control unit 120 may controlthe driving unit 140 a such that the vehicle or autonomous drivingvehicle 100 may move along the autonomous driving route according to thedriving plan (e.g., speed/direction control). During autonomous driving,the communication unit 110 may aperiodically/periodically acquire recenttraffic information data from the external server and acquiresurrounding traffic information data from neighboring vehicles. Duringautonomous driving, the sensor unit 140 c may obtain information about avehicle state and/or surrounding environment information. The autonomousdriving unit 140 d may update the autonomous driving route and thedriving plan based on the newly obtained data/information. Thecommunication unit 110 may transfer information about a vehicleposition, the autonomous driving route, and/or the driving plan to theexternal server. The external server may predict traffic informationdata using AI technology based on the information collected fromvehicles or autonomous driving vehicles and provide the predictedtraffic information data to the vehicles or the autonomous drivingvehicles.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure maybe carried out in other specific ways than those set forth hereinwithout departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of thepresent disclosure. The above embodiments are therefore to be construedin all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of thedisclosure should be determined by the appended claims and their legalequivalents, not by the above description, and all changes coming withinthe meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended tobe embraced therein.

As described above, the present disclosure is applicable to variouswireless communication systems.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method of transmitting anAcknowledgement/Negative acknowledgement (A/N) signal by a userequipment (UE) in wireless communication system, the method comprising:receiving a Downlink Control Information (DCI) for scheduling a PhysicalDownlink Shared Channel (PDSCH); obtaining, from DCI, informationrelated to a PDSCH group of the PDSCH and a Downlink Assignment Index(DAI) for the PDSCH; receiving the PDSCH based on the DCI; andtransmitting an Acknowledgement/Negative acknowledgement (A/N)information based on the PDSCH group and the DAI.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein, based on that the PDSCH is included in a first PDSCHgroup and other PDSCH in which is received based on other DCI isincluded in a second PDSCH group, two A/N information are generated foreach of the PDSCH and the other PDSCH.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein, the two A/N information are transmitted via a A/N signal. 19.The method of claim 16, wherein the DAI informing a position of PDSCHwithin the PDSCH group.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the A/Nsignal is transmitted based on Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) operation.
 21. Auser equipment (UE) for transmitting an Acknowledgement/Negativeacknowledgement (A/N) signal in wireless communication system, the UEcomprising: at least one transceiver; at least one processor; and atleast one computer memory operably connectable to the at least oneprocessor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at leastone processor, perform operations comprising: receiving, via the atleast one transceiver, a Downlink Control Information (DCI) forscheduling a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH); obtaining, fromDCI, information related to a PDSCH group of the PDSCH and a DownlinkAssignment Index (DAI) for the PDSCH; receiving, via the at least onetransceiver, the PDSCH based on the DCI; and transmitting, via the atleast one transceiver, an Acknowledgement/Negative acknowledgement (A/N)information based on the PDSCH group and the DAI.
 22. The UE of claim21, wherein, based on that the PDSCH is included in a first PDSCH groupand other PDSCH in which is received based on other DCI is included in asecond PDSCH group, two A/N information are generated for each of thePDSCH and the other PDSCH.
 23. The UE of claim 22, wherein, the two A/Ninformation are transmitted via a A/N signal.
 24. The UE of claim 21,wherein the DAI informing a position of PDSCH within the PDSCH group.25. The UE of claim 21, wherein the A/N signal is transmitted based onListen-Before-Talk (LBT) operation.
 26. An apparatus for transmitting anAcknowledgement/Negative acknowledgement (A/N) signal in wirelesscommunication system, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor;and at least one computer memory operably connectable to the at leastone processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the atleast one processor, perform operations comprising: receiving a firstDownlink Control Information (DCI) for scheduling a first PhysicalDownlink Shared Channel (PDSCH); receiving a Downlink ControlInformation (DCI) for scheduling a Physical Downlink Shared Channel(PDSCH); obtaining, from DCI, information related to a PDSCH group ofthe PDSCH and a Downlink Assignment Index (DAI) for the PDSCH; receivingthe PDSCH based on the DCI; and transmitting an Acknowledgement/Negativeacknowledgement (A/N) information based on the PDSCH group and the DAI.